The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-06-27
Coast Country Fruit.

A representative Of The Post was handed
yesterday a branch of a Burbank plum
tree grown by H. W. Bolton of Webster
l6 inches long that had forty-two large,
nearly ripe, luscious pums on the limb.
From small plum orchard he had sold
already this year $42 worth OF fruit.
Prof. Bouton as he was called in Ne
braska when he graduated from the State
normal, left off teaching and came to
Webster, this county, nearly five years
ago and now has one OF the.sbest. If not
the best, ten-acre orchard in the coast
country. His orchard is largely pears not
yet bearing, but figs, peaches, pluns.
Strawberries and dewberries are In bear
ing, also vegetables, and he has received
this year In cash: For one and two-thirds
acres berries $3.50; from two acres beans
w; from half acre grapes, $71; from half
acre plums, S42; and from the sale of the
alamo cantaloupe in the last twelve DAYS
So2. Total cash receipts for four and
Two thirds acres to date, s417
Mr.. Bouton has purchased another ten
acres adjoining and now has on that trac,
nine acres OF the famous Alamo" or
ROCKY FORD melons, from which shipments
commenced twelve days ago and will con
tinue during the season, at so a crate
contracted for as delivered daily to the
Webster depot.
IL should be understood that the most
OF Mr. Bouton's and the other orchards
OF the coast country are set out largely Ia
pears and in the next two or three Years
VIII be in full bearing, 100 bearing tree 10
tne acre, or 1000 trees on a ten-acre or
chard. This money received on a trIfis
over -FOUR acres of land is raised largely
among the pear trees as an extra crop
entirely, so as to berries. vegetables etc
though this showing OF over s4O0 would
pay 10 per cent interest on $4,000 invest
ment during this unfavorable season. and
the season only little over half over.
OF course, this estimate does not include
the labor, but with this estimate should
also be included the 1000 pear trees soon
TO be reckoned in the account which Az
the conservative estimate of two bushels
TO the tree and 81 busbEl would increase
the years income by $1,000.
IL requires as Mr.. Bouton has given.
Tour or fve years of work and clce ,
study OF the climate conditions and mar
kets, but when the orchard is in full bear
ing II will assuredy pay good per cent
on SoVo TO $1,000 an acre, as does CALIFORNIA
truit land now, and they sell at those
prices. Our coast country fruit farmers
nave these advantages over California;
1000 miles shorter haul, two DAYS nearer
market and six weeks earlier and at one
third the freight rates to markets Why
should they not compete and do il easily?
Some fear that when our pear orchards
como into full bearing they will over
STOCK the market and bring down the price.
rms is mistake. The AREA of territory
where pears can be produced is limited
eeeiaediy so. Our strawberry growers sea
from the experience OF this wear rbat
where a quantity OF any article Is raised
10 justify, the buyers come from all ovar
me Union As many as eleven buvers
from as many Northern cities were in
ALVIN at time day after day. taking ali
the strawberries offered and would have
bought carloads where crates were offered
Soulu they nave gotten them. So IL viii
ue Win our pear growers The Texa,
artlcle VIII first he substituted fnr inc
Calliornia fruit, the buyers will he here in
groves TO carry them to wider markers
ana ana our growers will be paid cash an de-
llVery al the depot as they now ara aSa
for the Alamo melon by the wss pa.u
ttty now from st. Louis, who send
Northwest iSase ana
fFult growers OF the coast country do
nos DC discouraged. The future Is hright
anu an, only mold on till your orchards arain
tu oesiing' and then go fishing during
t middle OF summer, raise an early and
iase crop OF vegetables and your fruit will
make you independent. proor 80 wa