The Van Buren press., 1895-07-13
Arkansas Potatoes.


The staff correspondent Of the Little
Rock Gazette writing from Van Buren,
says:
With the close of the potato season
near at hand, and time allowed the
farmer to consider results, nothing
average yield in Western Arkansas
being greater than that Of California.
While the average yield of the entire
district, hill lands and bottom together,
is but $50 bushels to the acre, If the
yield of the river and creek lands are
alone taken into account, 1t is found
that the yield runs from 210 to 800
bushels to the acre, which is from two
to three times the amount reported
officially from California.
The given estimates Of the yield in
this county is OH basis of single crop.
If we add a second crop amounting only
to 60 per cent. of the present yield,
Western Arkansas by odds also dis
counts Colorado's claim of the leading
potato State in the Union. Their maxi
mum yield is 400 bushels and a little
over, while Arkansas yield, even at
the given advantage, would be 500
bushels and over.
The information collected by the
Gazette being for the benefit Of the
whole State, It should be emphasized in
this connection that the Bliss Early
Triumph has come out Of the general
experiment in Western Arkansas as the
earliest, largest, most prolific and best
eating potato it is possible for the
farmers to grow profitably. This may
not have been the case In other states
where 1t has been tried, but 1t Is the
conclusion reached in this part Of our
State where 1t has been grown success
fully ON all kinds Of lands. While to
make assurance doubly sure, the
superiority Of the potato grown here ID
its own vindication, the Arkansas
grown Triumph having in all markets
commanded from to 10 cents more per
bushel than those from all other states.
The wide range of fruit and truck
crops grown In this county has been
added to in the last few days, in the fact
that having proved profitable In the
extreme and the tree of quick growth In
this climate, w. A. Jetfers, Of Null
berry, this county, will plant from 1O
to 2O acres in pomegranates. Steps have
also been taken to grow ribbon cane fol
market, while added to these two semi
tropical products, it is no uncommon
thing to see home grown japanese
plums offered for sale an the streets o.
Van Buren. And of truth, tx
enumerate the lists of fruits and trucl
products to which in results this county
shows itself profitably adapted, would b.
to exhaust the entire catalogue OF fruits
truck and all mixed farm crops grow
in the temperate zone.
| As news to growers living in Missouri
Pacific territory, 1t is given out reliabl,
that the road has placed an order fo
refrigerator and ventilated cars to tn
number Of many hundreds. They ar,
to have every modern improvement
and will be constructed with especia
reference to long hauls out Of thi
State, and are to have insignia on tn
exterior showing that they contain
Arkansas fruit and truck. And /,
connection with this place, while tn
company 8 track room Is second only t.
that Of Little Rock and Texarkana, an,
new switches put in during the presen
season, so great is the prospect of thei
fruit and truck business that It need no
surprise one If their track room at Val
Buren is doubled in short time.
NJ. L. DEMAHLER.