Sierra County advocate. [volume] (Kingston, N.M.) 1884-1960, 1904-12-09
THE APPLE COUNTRY
Southern Illinois Will Lead In Pro-
duction for This Year.
Industry Now One OF the Greatest In
pt"--Giay Country Alone
win Haryest over One Mil
Hon barrels.


Hon Barrels.
There is to be repetition this yea
of the story Of the going down int,
Egypt" but instead VI going foi
corn, as Jo.eph's brethren did of old
the people OF northern Illinois will bus
4 apples of their southern neghbors
reports the Chicago Chronicle,
Egypt" is 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 IL over, fer 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 mill
lion barrels Of apples! Large red ap-
Piles whose qualities in the market
make them the peer of any fruit in the
world, This is the crop of Clay county
for 1900,
With an area exceeding 10000 acres
set to total exceeding 100000 trees,
one-half Of which are 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
nll time. This immense acreage Is
centered about the little city ~ Flora,
the metropolis of the country
Possibly in radius OF Is miles viii
include the greater portion Of the ar
chard area. The southern Illinois belt
claims $4,000 acres, scattered over ten
counties, nNd the one county Of Clay
has more than one-half this total acre
age.
The average age of the apfNe trees
is possibly ~ years. and the present
year is the irst general crop since lie
trees became OF 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
cf tic finest orchards in the United
states are located on The outskirts Of
the "orchard city, as Flora is com
monty known.
From tho commence inst north of |
town may be seen Loco acres of apple |
trees. NOW loaded with fruit. The va-
rieties known IN this section are those |
well known in The markets as tandard |
fruit. Color, flavor and keeping qralA |
ties ARE the requisites which are need |
ed to give an apple favor ID the eyes
of the buyer nud later please the MP |
petite q Q critical people The Ben
Davis predOmiuatcs, rs to the other
varieties. u proportion Of three to one.
The jonathan. with lts sleek, GLOSSY |
coat Of deep red, II the prime favorite
These apples bring fancy prices, and |
there Is an unlimited demand for this
splendid variety.
The harvesting 81 this enormous
crop j. problem which the growers
have yet TO solve This IS the first
general crop since the trees have
reached the age 81 maturing and the
Of such vast amount Of fruit
within comparatively short time is
likely to tax the abilities Of the horti-
culturists. Preparations are under
Hay and everyone il hustling in order
to meet TIE rush which is now a hand.
Ohe repres eMaliAc ~ large come
nsaian firm said to your corresI0nd-
int TIE otier Gay that he bad pur-
chased 50 900 barrels Iris means $40
ar leads Or fully ten treiiis of apples.
IRE magnitude q tle industry Is not
apparent until the figures are coneid-