Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, Ramsey Co., Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1905, 1902-12-12
THE APPLE COUNTRY
Southern Illinois Will Lead In Pro.
duction for This Year.

Now One of the Greatest N
"EsyDt"-C1ay Country Alone
VIII Harvest Over One Ral-
lion Barrels.
There 10 to be a repetition this year
of the story of the going down into
Egypt" but instead of going fol
corn, as Joseph's brethren did of old
the people of northern Illinois will buy
apples Of their southern neighbors
reports the Chicago Chronicle.
Egypt" is the name given to the
extreme southern portion of the state
by the 20 fortunate people of the
north, and for years the thrifty people
OF the corn belt have been slyly pok.
ing fun at the Egyptians" but appar.
emily that day is over, for with one
county 100000 barrels of apples and
the corn crop almost equal to the cen.
tral section a new era has apparently
dawned for southern Illinois. One mil
lion barrels of apples! Large, red ap-
pies whose qualities in the market
make them the peer of any fruit in the
world. This is the crop Of Claycounty
for 1900.
With an area exceeding 10000 acres
set to a total exceeding 1000, 900 trees,
one-half of which r bearing thisyear,
this locality resembles one large apple
orchard, and one could imagine himself
in the Garden of Eden, with apples
enough for Adam and his posterity for
all time. This immense acreage is
centered about the little city of Flora,
the metropolis of the country.
Possibly in a radius of Is miles will
include the greater portion of the or
chard area. The southern Illinois belt
claims $4,000 acres, scattered over ten
counties, and the n county of Clay
has more than one-half this total acre
age.
The average age Of the apple trees
is possibly ~ years, and the present
year is the first general crop since the
trees became of a bearing age. The
country seems peculiarly adapted to
the growing of an ideal apple tree and
the production of a perfect apple. Ac-
cording to the best authorities some
of the finest orchards in the United
States are located on the outskirts of
the Orchard city," as Flora is COM
monty known.
From the eminence just north of
town may be seen 1000 acres of apple
trees, now loaded with fruit. The va
rieties known in this section are those
we'll known in the markets as standard
fruit. Color, flavor and keeping quail
ties r the requisites which are need
ed to give an apple favor in the eyes
of the buyer and later please the ap-
petite of a critical people. The Ben
varieties, in proportion of three to one.
The Jonathan, with it's sleek, glossy
coat of deep red, is the prime favorite.
These apples bring fancy prices, and
there is an unlimited demand for this
splendid variety.
The harvesting of this enormous
crop is a problem which the growers
have yet to solve. This is the first
general crop since the trees have
reached the age of maturing and the
handling of sucha vast amount Of fruit
within a comparatively short time is
likely to tax the abilities of the horti-
culturists. Preparations are under
way and everyone is hustling in order
to meet the rush which is 10Y at hand.
One representative of a large com
mission firm said 20 your correspond
ent the other day that he had pur-
chased $4,000 barrels. This means $50
car loads or fully ten trains of apples.
The magnitude of the industry is not
apparent until the figures, are consid-
cred.
Insorder to are for the grades Of
fruit other than first-class nine large
e~vaPorators have been built in this
locality. These plants when running
at full capacity will use 5000 bushels
daily. They are a marvel within them
selves. Not only do they dry the body
of the apple, but the cores and p~eeiing
are also e~vaporated, and they find a
ready market.
These institutions turn out car Loads
Of good clean stock and the quality is
attested by the prices the product
brings in the market. The apple grow
ing industry is is yet in It's infancy and
those horticulturists OF an optimistic
turn of mind see great possibilities in
store for this immediate locality when
later years test the permanently Of the
business. 1t has opened up new in
dustries and quickened the pulse of {
section where the wheels Of progress
had not turned for two decades. Al
instance is shown by the location o:
a $4,000 cold storage plant in this city
and still another where one of the
evaporators, when the apple season
was over. used pumpkins and found
ready market for this fruit.
Negro Population.
The rapid increase of the slaves un
der the excellent hygienic surround
ings of the old plantations produce'
quite enough of them and to spare