Sierra County advocate. [volume] (Kingston, N.M.) 1884-1960, 1903-03-27
THE APPLE COUNTRY
Southern Illinois Will Lead In Pro
duction for This Year.
lnaustry Now OAs Of the 0veatsss II
"EGypt"--Clay Country AloMe
viii HArvest over One neAl-
At0n lAmrssSa.

OF the story OF the going down intt
Egypt" but instead Of going fol
corn, as Jo.eph's brethren did of old
the people of northern Illinois will buy
apples Of their southern neighbors
reports the Chicago Chronicle.
Egypt 10 the name given to The
extreme southern portion of the state
by the more 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
trail section new era has apparently
dawned for southern Illinois. One mil
lion barrels Of applesl Large, red APP
pies whose qualities In the market
make them the peer Of any fruit In the
world. This 10 the crop of Clay county
for 1900.
With an area exceeding 10000 acres
set TO a total exceeding 2.000. 900 trees,
one-half Of which ara bearing thisyear.
this locality resembles one large apple
orchard, and one could imagine himself
In tho Garden OF Eden. with npplcs
enough for Adam and his posterity for
all time. This immense acreage IL
centered about the little city OF Flora,
the metropolis OF tha country.
Possibly In 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 one county Of Clay
has more than onehalf this total acre
age.
The average age Of the apple trees
Ia possibly IL years. and the present
year 10 the hrat general crop since the
trees became of bearing age. The
country seems peculiarly adapted 10
the growing of an ideal apple tree and
the production of perfect apple. Ac-
cordng to the best authorities some
of the finest orchards In the United
States nre located on the outskirts of |
the Orchard city," A. Flora 10 com
monty known.
From tho erninence 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
well known In the markets ms standard
Frnit. Color. flavor and keeping quail
lies are the requisites which are need
nd to give an apple favor in the eyes
of the buyer and later please the mp
,eMte Of critical people The Len
ttt1 In t4aA Nx.t xxtl
'nrictieA, In proportion OF three to one
The Jonathan. with its sleek. glossy
oat Of deep red. IL the prime favorite.
These apples bring fancy prices, and
here Ia an unlimited demand for this
plendid variety.
The harvesting Of this enormous
rop is problem which the growers
ave yet 10 solve. This is the frat
'eneral crop since the trees have
cached the age Of maturing and the
andfing OF such vas amount OF fruit
ritbin n comparatively short time Ia
kelly to tax the abilities OF the horti-
ultbrists. Preparations are under
ay and everyone is hustlinG In order
0 meet the rush which Is now al hand.
One representative ~ a largc com
'istion Arm said to your corresponds
Mt the other day that he had pur-
hased 10000 barrels. This means $50
lr loads or fully ten trains Of apples.
he magnitude Of the industry il not
pparent until the figures are consid-
-ed
In order 10 care for the grade~ Of
uit other than hrst-ciass nlns large
'nporators have been built In this
calitv. These plants wh.r running
full capacity will use 1900 bushels
ally. They are a marvel within them
lives. Not only dn they dry the bcdy
the apple, but the cores and pecling .
re also evaporated, and they find a '
'ady market.
These Institutions turn out car loads I
good clean stock and the quality IL !
tested by the prices the product q
'ings In the market The apple grow c
x industry ia sns yet in its infancy and y
'o.s hoi tieui.uIiA.. oi ar optimistic .
i'm Of mind see great possibilities In O
ore for this immediate locality when I
ter years test the permanency Of the O
isiness. II has opened up new IN
lNriss and quicksned the pulse Of d
ction where the wheels Of progress X
ID not turned for two decades. An v
stance IL shown by the location Of r.
$4,000 cold storage plant In this city |.
ID still another where one Of the b
sporators. when the apple sensnn q
Is over, used pumpkins and found d
ady market for this fruit.