Rocky Ford enterprise., 1894-03-15
'raVl1 CULTURE IN coLoaApo.
the stats.

The frult growing Industry OF COLORADO has
practically sprung Into commercial impor-
~ years ago or longer, limited amount OF
fruit In still more restricted area was sue
SSsssiully grown. The peach belt on the
Western Slope was, little over eleven years
ago, the home Of the Ute Indian, and no
white mar was allowed to till one foot Of
what ID now occupied by productive. helds and
orchards extending over scope OF country
about slxty.hve miles long by nearly ten
attitudes ranging from $500 to 1000 feet, all
of the deciduous fruits flourish and yield
abundantly In that favored belt.
Results show that apples, pfttnes, peaches,
nectarlncs, nprieots, grapes Qncluding all the
native California varietics), piums, cherries
nhd oil the bush or small fruits are exceed
fngiy profitable, netting from $500 TO $500 an
here, according to locality and skill in grow
Ing. Peach orchards only eleven years old
have produced eight consecutive crops and
offer ah equally good prospect for bearing
nRain this year. warm trade wind or Chi
nook" makes frost practically unknown be-
tween the months Of March and November In
this locality.
On The Eastern Slope Of the state, which
takes in the territory lying north and south
between Canon City aud Fort Collins, and ex-
tending eastward for II distance Of over ninety
miles, lies what 10 known as the apple belt,
for the reason that the greatest success has
been attained in growing apples, though
many other kinds Of fruit also flourish TO a
profitable extent. A case In point lilustrat-
Ing this is the fact that one grower in canon
City derived 1900 barrels Of apples from five
acres of land, and they brought $500, or
tride less than an averags of s4 per barrel.
This Is not an isolated example represent
ing the highest possible result, but 10 given to
show what can be done with good average
care In the right kind Of soil. Right here IL
very Important III the culture OF applcs and
kindred fruits. And without giving detailed
analyses OF the soils 1t Is a self-evident propo-
sition from results already obtained over SO
large an Area in Colorado, separated by nearly
500 miles in the extreme east md west direc-
ton, that the state possesses limited amount
Of all the requisite kinds OF soil demanded for
tine successful culture Of all the fruits emu
meratcd.
The census returns for the decade ending
1880 show that Il ,SS3 acres more Of fruit we're
planted In Colorado during that time than
in the preceding decade, with ali increase OF
264 per cent In production. Yet the prod
uct OF 1892 e., $50, 900, was but n small part
OF the home demand, and importations to
supply the deficiency were made during that
time amounting TO about a, 500, 600, nearly
one-half Of which was for green md the re-
nainder for canned and dried fruits.
The fact that the area Is limited on which
tho kinds Of fruit named can be grown, rem
dcrs 1t n safe prediction that Colorado can
never raise enough fruit to supply the grow
ing home demand, even when every available
acre is laid under tribute for that purpose.
The grower bere is also protected from COM
petition with Eastern and California growers
by n railroad haul ranging from 200 to 1900
miles outside the borders Of the state.
Frut lands are nlso extremely moderate In
price when compared with California, prices
ranging from S25 to $500 ncres according to
location. This makes 1t possible for the man
Of small means to accomplish much greater
results with the same money in the same
length of time, Than In California under pres
Ar, tnI, ,r,,lo mt
innn, even without previous experience, can,
with less than 81 900. make a first pay ment
on securing and planting from twenty to forty
acres Of the very best lnnd, that with ordinary
side OF five years from date Of planting, Of not
less thnn 1900 an acre on an average. The
figures already given show this Is conservs-
tive estimate.
Illustrating the profits OF other fruits one
man near Denver secured 81 200 from single
acre OF grapes, while another received $500 an
acre from berries. Others have received M
high as 81 600 an acre. Another grower,
within few miles of Denver, harvested from
two acres 100 barrels Of apples from five
from II acres.
The fayorlte vcrleties Of apples grown ure
the Ben Davis, Missouri Pippin, Wealthy,
Alexander, Duchess of oldenburgh, Red
AstraknD, Fameuse, Gcnitan, Jonathan nnd
Wine Sap. The bright sun and dry ntmOs.
phere Of Colorado give smoothncss, rich.
ness OF color and unexcclled quality to all
fruit grown here.
The prizes given Colorado grown fruit a,
the Worlds Fair at Chicago are eloquent les
taments that this statement is not cxagger-
ated. In pears, the popular varieties grown
arc the Bartlett, Duchess, Flemish Beauty
and Mount Vernon. Of plums, the Imperial
Gage, Early Red Russian, Mclaughlin, LOm-
bard and shippers Pride are the fnvorltes.
OF course many other kinds are the subject
Of constant experiment.
Though the year 1898 was the largest on
record In the matter Of tree planting, one firm
alone near Denver setting out 9S, 600 trees,
yet for reasons already stated the industry
presents most attractive and profitable field
10 all whose tastes are In that direction.
Colorado is the home of the Rocky Noun
tain Cherry. Buffalo Berry, Red Plum, June
Berry. Huckleberry, Red Currants and Rasp.
berries thus showing we are the natural fruit
belt Of the United States. Almonds and figs
are also grown, but how successfully the eX-
perments made have not yet demonstrated,
because so comparatively recent.
Our clear, bright atmosphere and absence
of fogs permit of sun-dryiug fruit equal to
evaporated.
Large or small planting OF the apricot for
drying alone offers fine field for the investor
for they command the highest price and will
for years to come. This fruit bears very
prolificnlly and 1t is growing In favor all over
the world, In fact, any of the declduous
fruits are at home in Colorado and offer to
The insect pests which ravage the orchards
OF both California aud the East arc very
scarce In Colorado and the labors Of the hor.
ticulturist, ms we'll as his losses, are consc-
quently greatly abridged.
An advantage offered the Eastern man to
grow fruit In Colorado is that the Industry
may be put on paying basis inside OF three
years by using the ground between the trees
for growing vegetables and small fruits The
total cost of setting orchard including
original outlay for nursery stock, need not
exceed $25 an acre.
A finnl advantage the latter possesses 10
that by means of irrigation he is enabled to
absolutely control the moisture absorbed BY
his trees. All familiar with the subject know
that moisture 10 one of the most important
foctors in fmpartlng that exquisite, juicy
flavor so desirable In fruit. Under the magic
influence Of its judicious distribution, the
size and avor of any fruit may be immensely
improved. Even the Ben Davis apple Of the
East becomes juicy, we'll favored fruit in
Colorado and loses that very spongy, tough
quality for which 1t Ia elsewhere condemned.
Then. too. the older fruit growers here arc
always willing to give freely to newcomers
the results Of their years of experimenting
md are ready to assist the beginner by prac-
tical advice that will save him many expen-
sive experiments.
Colorado offers health to the invalid, wealth
to the industrious and happiness unalloyed
to the over-worked and under paid victims of
the commercial and industrial grind In the
East who will come and breathe the pure
ozone OF her atmosphere and bask In the per-