Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1900-11-09

Black Hills Fruit Culture and Gardening.
Paper by Geo. NJ Trimmer of Hot
Springs. S. D.. read before South
Dakota State horticultural Society
at Parker January Is. 1900
1 feel very highly IGNORED at the
recognition bestowed upon me by this
honorable body, and in response to
your request to supply a paper treating
upon farm garden and orchard | will
cheerfully give whatinformation can
upon these pursuits in the Black Hills.
For the past twenty years l have
watched the progress made by agricul-
turalists of our young state with zeal
Gus pride and must admit that as
a fruit growing state the developments
have far exceeded the expectations of
those most eft..,eiastic.
The Hack l Is oecupyi g 8 small
AZ ea i'll she : est oorr y. cf the
state. { 1bra eoraethin like Ii
hundred miles sq-are and recognized
among the richest of gold mining re-
gions with a production of goldfor 1899
of 100000. This range of mountains
is entirely surrounded by vast range
territories on which little or nc atten-
ton is given to fruit growing or agri-
culture. In the foot hills and valleys
! of the Black Hills considerable farming
and gardening and some fruit growing
are carried on with gratifying success.
While fruit growing is in the minor
ity in this portion of the state l will
dwell upon it first, owing to the fact
that 1 have given fruit growing more
4 or less attention aud now own the
< largest and Oldest orchard in the Black
Hills, embracing 500 sturdy, healthful
apple and pear trees, 100 of which have
borne constantly for the past eight
years. These fruits grow large and
! perfect and free from spots and worms
\ and have a flavor far superior to the
\ fruits of southern states, which is
\ credited to the high altitude and
bracing air of the mountains. With
out irrigation fruit cannot he made to
y grow; but with plenty of water and
Y untiring care fruit canbe made to grow
in any of the valleys or foot hills of
y these mountains; but close obser.
D vance has taught me that care and
4 prudence is as much Il necessity as is
\ water to insure clean perfect fruit.
NV orchard was set ont fourteen years
Y ago and was more or less an expert
X ment. For the first eight years / met
d with continuous encouragement
from neighbors and friends, as no one
felt that fruit could ever be made to
\ grow and bear in this high, cold, north
9 ern climate, and l was inclined to be
Y of the same opinion but continued
\ to foster the growing trees with pride
q and care from year to year, until it
II has been demonstrated that the
mountain breeze and winters snow
y gives fruit both thrift an flavor.
q With regards to small fruits and
vines, every kind grows rank aud
thrifty and Wit. flavor unsurpassed
My CHI Try IL 'ield any acre from
q l15 to i15 90 j. tree every year and
u requil 7ery , attent =, Straw
berrie ,iald .iy and painfully
and from II patch fifty feet square |
!. gathered 700 quarts last season
Currants, grapes and plun,s all do
we'll and yield heavily.
Vegetables and garden stufrs depend
~ greatly on the seasons, only where
irrigation can be had, which insures
the varied growth and maturity OF
every vegetable known to gardening.
The soil and seasons are well
adapted to the growing Of cereal pro.
ducts, but unless accessible to irriga-
j. ton, crops are very uncertain. Ho"
/, ever all the irrigated lands are utilizec
in the growing of hay, which in this
portion of the state is far more profit
able and requires less labor, attention
and machinery than the growing ct
grain and sells readily for from 50 to
IL. .lo Il ton.
n Alfalfa is the principal crop and j.
ng peculiarly adapted to this climate.
d. moved my field four times in 1895
but owing to the backwardness of las
spring. only harvested three crops
is which is the usual cut.
My farm which at present is II o
the Leading attractions of the southern
III Black Hills, was the first Location
tie. made in Fall River Valley and wa
settled upon in 1879. Part Of it wa
~ divided into towu lots and comes with
co in TIL ror. limits e Dakota
a. fa1no Aaal ~, Hot brings.
"a get m i.s;s an Fal liver. an
= = as tn G'as. The 81 > temper
allure ..-' cr.,e.-s the SAM medicine
properties as the water used in tn
celebrated bath houses, and TIL
III. healing waters seem to have the sam,
nd nourisilings effect on vegetation as OF