The Lamar register., 1892-05-07
Fruit culture in prowers County.

The planting of orchards and the
cultivation of small fruits has long
been recognized by experienced
growers as one of the most profitable
in agricultural economy. Not only
is the net income many times greater
than the growing of grain and
grasses, ,ibut an enhanced value is
given to the land which increases
from year to year. Then too cul-
ture of fruit, especially orchard va
rieties is not SO exhaustive upon the
soil as the growing ef grain and veg
etable crops. Planting trees in the
soil is permanent improvement
while seeding to grain is but an an
nual repetition of process which
rapidly impoverishes the land.
In California, lands given over to
grain farming have increased in
value during the last ten years, not
to exceed twelve per cent; while
those devoted to fruit culture have
increased in the same period from
three hundred to five hundred per
cent Thousands of acres of the best
grain lands may be bought in that
State at from $40 to $100 an acre,
while lands set to fruit plantations
cannot be had for less than $500 an
acre, and in the case of bearing trees
readily bring from that sum to ST.
600 an acre. That which is true of
California is true also of Colorado.
1t is true of any country in which
fruit may be successfully grown.
Fruits pay net income from the
lands of from 5000 to $500 an acre,
while grain lands yield not
more than from So to SO per acre
on the average.
The growing of the deciduous
fruits, including the stone varieties,
has long since passed the experiment
tai stage in Colorado. It is no more
guess work. 1t is profitable reality.
Five years ago there were not more
than 5000 acres of fruit trees in the
State of Colorado. Now there are
10000 acres and before the close of
1892, double that acreage will be set
to the best varieties of trees. In
Arapahoe, Boulder, Jefferson, Lari-
mer, Fremont, Montrose, Delta, Mesa
and Garfield counties hundreds of
thousands of fruit trees have been
set out during the last three years,
and these counties have already
many magnificent orchards in bear
ing. Until quite recently, however,
very little attention has been given
to this profitable industry in the
great Arkansas valley, grain and al
falfa being quite the 'fad' and the
planting of orchards the exception.
A change has at last occurred and the
exceptional advantages of the lower
Arkansas has been recognized.
In the vicinity of Lamar, over
half million of fruit trees have been
set out within the past two years and
thousands more have been and are
being planted this spring. Peach,
apricot, nectarine, plum, cherry, ap
Pile, pear and ounce of many varie-
ties each are securing root in our
fertile soil.
The REGISTER is gratified with
what has been and is now being
done in this valley in horticulture,
but urges upon every farmer and
land owner to set out liberally of the
best sorts of deciduous fruit trees.
Orchards in Colorado are exempt
from taxation for term of ten years
after setting and within that period
the value of lands will increase and
pay handsome dividend on a valua-
ton of at least 81, 900 an acre.
The Arkansas valley in the vicinity
of Lamar is particularly favorable to
the growth and production of all the
most tender varieties of deciduous
fruits, and is so accessible to good
markets that profitable figures may
for years be obtained for the har-
vests. Therefore it is urged upon
our husbandmen to plant trees, plant
more trees and keep on planting
trees.
Pharaoh,s Daughter and Moses.