Cañon City record., 1905-10-12
Apples
In Plenty
Ranchmen Harvesting the Biggest
cropssince i9O2-improvement
In Pack and Better Prices Than
Last Year.

IN PACK anu DGttcf FTICGS nan
Last Year.
There is something doin" on the
fruit ranches about Canon City these
bright October days and great ricks OF
brilliant red and golden hued apples
are to be seen in nearly every orchard
which increase in length and breadth
as the pickers unload from their basket
the treasures Of Pomona into their
growing bulk. The scene presented by
. Fremont county orchard at this sea-
son Of the year is one OF the utmost
satisfaction and must enlist the atten-
tion OF the observer. be he ever so in
different to the charms of horticulture.
The prodigality Of the crop and the in
telligent. careful manner in which the
fruit is handled will command his in
terest and reveal to him a science,
which, may hap, he does not appreciate
nor understand.
Unless he is familiar with the pro-
gress made in horticulture In recent
years he will be surprised at the quAli-
~ of the fruit spread out for his in
spection. In size, color and favor II is
much superior to what he was used to
when boy 'down on the farm" in
Ohio, Illinois or New York and his
preeonceived ideas OF our Colorado
orchard products undergo = radical
change, for the evidence OF bis eyes
and taste convince him that he has at
last found . condition which clotely
approaches perfection. The excellence
Of the fruit about him 10 . revelation
and demonstrates the possibilities Of
its growth and development under
favoring conditions Of soil and climate,
superinduced by artificial means Of
conveying to the tree which produces
it the requisite amount Of moisture.
Laden with apples, which BY the
alchemy OF nature have turned to
scarlet or golden yellow Is the case
may be, the orchards of Lincoln Park
and FFuitmere these autumnAl days
when the sky 10 blu. a. turquois and
the purpling mists Of Indian summer
hang upon the crests Of the distant
mountains are thing of beauty. and.
were they less trsnsitory, would be a
joy forever.
Every resident of Canon City should
make Il point to drive through the
fruit growing districts which environ
the town at least twice every year
once when the trees are in bloom and
once when they are ripening into
fruition. Such trip will do him good
in more ways than one. 1t will keep
him in touch with the material pro-
gress OF things about him. will broaden
his charity for his neiehbor and will
stimulate his pride In the locality in
which he has made his home.
The apple crop this season, will.
probably, eIeeeI any previous year,
save 1892 which established precedent
for prodigality which hss never been
equalled. II IL difficulty to even Ap-
proximAte its bulk or value at this
time, although IL would not be ex-
travigant to estimate the apple crop in
the territory tributory to this city at
three hundred car loads, or one hun
dred and fifty thousand bushels. which
10. probably, seventy-five car loads
more tbsn the crop last year.
Prices are very good at present and
many orchardists are marketing their
produc, as rapidly as II is picked from
the trees. Select winessps commanded
one dollar and forty cents a boz. the
word select" implying an apple two
and half inches in diameter. Ben
Davis, which are the cheapest variety
grown here. are worth something like
ninety cents . box. Other well known
varieties are selling at from one dollar
to one dollar and n quarter a box which
IL considered an exceptionally good
price for the time of the year. 1t is
believed the price of most varieties
will fall of ten or fifteen cents box
within the next week or ten days, but
will be restored as the market re-
adjusts itself after the rush incident to
the gathering period is over.
A gratifying thing in connection
with the apple crop this year Is the
fact that there Is brisk demand for 1t
in the Chicago, st Louis and Missouri
river markets, which means that the
superior qualities Of our Colorado fruit
is being recognized by eastern buyers.
A large amount of Canon City apples
have lbeen purchased by agents OF
Chicago and Kansas City dealers for
the last half dozen years; but never
until this season have consignments
been made by the growers to wholesale
In those cities. There is noticeable
imnrovement In the nnck this seAEun,