The Mena weekly star., 1897-12-08
PLANT ORCHARDS.


 sCamp Ground and return, We had presented to our view and inspec- fion thousands of acres of most excellent land for fruits of various kinds and what should become in "a few years the finest orchard section in all the great southwest.
 This section of the county lays at a high altitude and while not too shilly or rough for cultivation is sufficiently rolling for good sur face drainage. Except where few small clearings have been made it is covered with native timber and simply needs to be cleared and the surface properly broken to be ready for planting trees and vines.
 At the price these lands are be- ing held at now we assert with perfect confidence that no richer investment could be made than to buy, clear and plant them to the fruits that are known to do so we'll in this section of the country.
 It is not the part of wisdom for anyone to assert that because the growing of these fruits has not paid here in the past, that it will not pay now and in the future.
 It is easy to see that conditions have changed. Instead of being from 75 to one hundred miles dis tant from railroad or a market, we now have a road right at our doors, over which this fruit can be shipped both to the north and to the south, where at Port Arthur ocean vessels will take it to fill the constantly increasing demands of the European markets.
 A country that can produce an apple like the "Arkansas Black" should plant every acre possible to this and few kindered varie- ties, and the most timid need have no fear that:wcre nearly every acre soplanted there would not be a good demand and ready sale for every bushel produced, and at an hun dred fold more profit than were the same land planted to cotton.
 Peaches, pears, plums and the small fruits do equally as well and can be as successfully grown but must find a market nearer home than apples and we would suggest that in planting an apple orchard alternate rows be set to peaches, and where near enough to market, small fruits be grown few years between the rows thus made, with view of giving the entire ground to the apple orchard as the trees grow into bearing.
 Of course those who plant or chards should care for them if he would succeed. He must give the trees the same intelligent care and culture as the successful stockman gives his blooded stock and give the business the same attention as the successful merchant or manu- facturer gives his business.
 You can not sharpen the roots and drive the trees into the ground with a mallet, go away and leave them and return in few years ex- pecting to find them laden with fruit for your picking.
 What we have said of the sec tion of country to the west of Mena is true to greater or less extent of the country surrounding Mena in nearly every direction. And we expect to see the day and that in the near future when the valleys, the uplands and tho hill sides now covered with native forest will be transformed into or chards and vineyards with thous- ands of happy, prosperous homes. and numerous school houses and churches interspersed among them and Mena in the center. the great est fruit market and shipping point in Arkansas. if not in all the great west.