Rocky Ford enterprise., 1896-04-09
ARKANSAS VALLEY
FRUIT GROWING.
A Paper Read by J. C. Kahn Before
the State Horticultural Society.

A Paper Re1d by y. U. nam oeEofe
the State Horticultural Society.
It il useless to spesk Of the older parts
Of the valley, such as Canon City and
Florencs. "For by their fruits shall ye
know them" And their fruits have been
on the market and in the homee Of near
ly everybody in the state Of Colorado
and many places outside, which has Civ
en- them q reputation second to none.
Their well-drilled corps Of horticultur-
lists and ample tune for experience has
placed them above, where one With less
experience could place them with words
Of praise.
Our intention is to speak Of the lower
part Of the valley which is not known as
fruit country. No longer ago than
during the time that B. 8. Grimes was a
member Of this board, his expressions
did quite good deal in stimulating par
ties to plant fruit trees, and today We
think it was much OF his influence that
made the people believe that the Arkan-
sas valley was to become one Of the great
fruit belts OF our state.
beginning so recently, and having
nothing to guide us but the firm oonvic-
ton OF others, it was natural to 60 eau
tious and moderately slow, thus making
the bearing trees somewhat limited, yet
an abundance to prove that there is moth
ing that can he made as profitable as TO
plant the land to fruit trees. It does
not deteriorate the land, from the fact
that there are q great many kinds OF
vines and vegetables that can be grown
between the trees to vast profit and
which require many irrigations. each one
leaving the sediment from the water
gives plenty Of food for the trees and has
tendency to fertilize the land instesd Of
deteriorsting it.
The words fruit tree, in their broad
sense, are almost unlimited and it will
take the next generation's experience to
point with accuracy the kind Of fruit
trees that will prove the most successful
and profitable in the lower part of the
Arkansas valley. Yet, as stated, the e1-
perience 30 far shows great success and
profits. For example, we know OF plum
trees six years old which yielded 800
pounds to the tree, selling in the home
market at 3 cents pound, making $500
per tree. II planted no thicker than ap-
pie trees (25 feet each way), the crop
would pay for the land, trees and care
up to date, leaving the owner pay for his
work and the land and trees for q net
profit In the short space of six years.
And We think many other kinds OF fruit
have done equally as we'll
The great success in this valley in fruit
culture will not depend alone on mans
exertions. Nature has provided bounti-
fully in climate to mature fruit, and es-
pecially has it done that for the apple,
which needs q long season and nice,
pleasant, sunshiny Gays to give it that
beautiful, bright, red, glistening color
and add the soundness essential to their
long keeping qualities, for which the Ar
kansas valleys apples are famous.
And further. the soil in the valley on
the first bottom is Of an alluvial nature,
while that OF the upper lands is general
ly deep, sandy loam, easy TO break and
cultivate and well calculated to absorb
and retain the moisture applied by irri.
CATION. 1t is rich in phosphates and al
kaioids which are essential TO plant
growth and will furnish enormous crops
for hundreds Of years without needing to
be stimulated by any application Of fer
tilizers.
Hence We take it that othors may have
an eye to Cripple Creek for its golden
metals, but as for us, we think it useless
to look further than our own valley to
enthuse the strongest minds to wait but
q few years for the rich, delicious and al.
most endless varieties in red, blue and
golden hues, and In the end will produce
to more inhabitants greater health. han
pinees and wealth than all the minea of
our state combined.