The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-12-06

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A PEAR ORCHARD.
50, $50, 600 to the fruitgrowers. On the
Pacific slope of Colorado, fruit growing
has already become an important indus
try. The first fruit crop was harvested
IN 1887, and today the valleys of the
Grand river from Glenwood Springs to
Grand Junction of the north fork of the
Gunnison from Paonia to Delta and Of
the Uncompahgre are dotted with thou
sands of acres devoted to orchards and
vineyards.
Where Fruit Reaches Perfection.
This IS perhaps the most famous fruit
belt Of the state. Altitude and soil
combine to favor the industry. The alti-
tude ranges from a, 900 to 6, 500 feet
above sea level. The valleys are protect
ed from the chilling blasts of more ex-
posed regions while the winds from the
Pacific temper the climate far beyond
that Of equal latitude on the other side
OF the continental divide.
Snow seldom falls to a depth of
inches or lies on the ground a week at
a time. Thus all the delicate fruits.
peaches, apricOts, prunes, nectarines,
California grapes and berries of all
kinds reach perfection. The soil IS of a
rich sandy character, full of lime and
magnesia, and furnishes its own ferti-
Hzer as continued irrigation brings the
mineral ingredients to the surface.
Then, too, moth and rust have never
yet appeared in these valleys. The fruit
growers are organized to fight insects
on their first approach, and blight has
never yet touched apples, cherries or
pears From the first settlement on this
slope there has never been a failure Of
the fruit crop
The heart of this great fruit region is
about Grand Junction. The altitude is
not SO great here, and the general aver
age Of the temperature is much higher
Forty, so and 100 acre orchards are com
mon. Many fruitgrOWers plant a half sec
ton. This acreage is about equally di-
vided between apple and peach There
are, however, many pear orchards Of
from 40 to 100 acres. A capable, indus
triOus, painstalcing fruitgroyver can, in
side of five years from date of planting,
make his 20 or 40 acres yield him q net
income of $500 an acre on an average.
Does that sound like a ghost story?
Well, here are some figures which can It
lie. Mr.. W. A. Kennedy of this city
has an eight acre orchard, less the room
for his buildings and yards he has
demonstrated on this patch of ground
how a fruitgrower of limited means
may live while his orchard is maturing
His crop for 1892 yielded $3.50 for straw
berries, $3.50 40 for peaches, SIG. II for
apples, $50 for melons, S35 for cur
rants, $50 for gooseberries, SO for rasp-
berries, $50 for grapes, $50 for let
tuce, $40. so for onions, S33 for rhu-
barb, 81 40 for radishes, $50 for pOta-
foes, $37. 40 for tomatoes.
A Handsome Profit.
+-.1~- Ill 70,
add these figures, you viii get q total
of 81, 484 30 If from that total you de-
duct tine expense of cultivation, $3.50,
you VIII find that Mr.. Kennedy's little
eight acre orchard brought him a clear
profit of 81. 234- 35.
Small orchards we'll cared for are bet
ter they tell me here, than large plant
ings- Ten and twenty acre fruit tracts
with water can be bought for from $50 to
500 per acre, and when planted aud
ready to bear they sell at from 5000 to
5000 per acre.
Grape culture IS comparatively recent
here, but is crowding the peach and ap-
pie industry. Grapes require little wa
ter but d dry, sandy loan, with good
drainage. The best situation for a vine
yard Is where plants can have the bene-
fit of radiation of heat from surround
ing hills.
The Apple Belt.
On the eastern slope of the state which
comprises the territory lying north and
south between Canon City and Fort Col
inns, and extending eastward for dis
lance of over go miles, lies the great
apple belt. There are two important
factors IN the successful cultivation Of
Of moisture to impart
that exquisite, juicy favor which is so
desirable and q FlaV Sl1bSolI- f3V ITrI-
cation the fruitgrower IS enabled to
absolutely control the moisture absorb
ed by the trees, and the soil is not want
ing in this area A grower at Canon
City derived 1, 500 barrels OF apples from
a i've acre orchard and sold them fer
s.. 800, or a tri1e less than am average
Of 81 a barrel
The great San Luis valley promises
much in the way Of fruit culture. The
small fruits and many of the harder
varieties Of apples, pears and cher
s.ies are grown there This valley Is
stretch Of lsvel plain, as large as the
t.ate of Copnecticut living between