Sierra County advocate. [volume] (Kingston, N.M.) 1884-1960, 1906-11-09
THE APPLE COUNTRY
Southern Illinois Will Lead in Pro-
duction for This Year.
Industry Now One of the Greatest in
"E&ypt"--Clay Country Alone
VIII Harvest over One Mil
lion Earrsis.

There is to be a repetition this year
of the story of the going down into
Egypt" but instead of going for
| corn, as Jo. sph's brethren lid Of old,
| the people OF northern ILLINOIS will buy
cpples cf their southern ncighbors,
reports tie Chicago Chronicle.
Egypt" is the name given to the
extreme southern portion Of the state
by the moro fortunate people Of the
nerth, 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 oyer, for with one
county 1,o0o,0oo barrels Of apples and
the corn crop almost equalto the cen
tral section e new era has appafently
dawned for southern Illinois. One bail
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 Clay county
for 1900.
With an area exceeding 40,0 900 acres
set to a total exceeding 100000 trees,
one-half of which are bearing this year,
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 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 one-half this total acre
age.
The average age Of the apT1e trees
is possibly ~ years, and the present
year is the first general crop since the
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
of tie finest orchards in the United
States are located on the outskirts of
the "orchard city, as Flora is COM
monty known. VI
From the eminence just north (of
town may be seen 200 acres of apple
trees, now loaded with fruit .2he va
rieties known in this sectionare those
well known in the markets as standard
fl1dc. Cot6r, tu96r' ana Keeping quail |
ties are the requiJdes which are need
ed to give an 2spple favor in the eyes
of the bryep and later please the ap-
peIite of critical people. The Ben
Davis predominates, as to the other
varieties, in proportion Of three to pne.
The jonathan, with its 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 such vast amount of fruit
within 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 now at hand
One representative Of large com
mission firm said to your correspond
ent the other day that he had pur-
chased $4,000 barrels. This means $50
,ar loads or fully ten trains of apples.
The magnitude OF the industry is not
until the figures are consid-
cred.
In order to care for the grades of
fruit other than hrst-class nine large
evaporators have been built In this
locality. These plants when running
At full capacity will use $4,000 bushels
daily. They are marvel within them
selves. Not only do they dry the body
Of the aprle hut the core- ard rcclias
are also evaporated, and they find
eady market.
These institutions turn out car loads ,
If good clean stock and the quality is
lttested by the prices the product
brings in the market. The apple grow
ng industry is as yet in its infancy, and
hose horticulturists of an optimistic {
urn of mind see great possibilities in {
store for this immediate locality when
ater years test the permanency of the
business. 1t has opened up new in
Iustries and quickened the pulse of ,
ection where the wheels of progress ,
ad not turned for two decades An
Instance is shown by the location of
$4,000 cold storage plant in this city
nd still another where one of the
when the apple season {
vas over, used pumpkins and found
eady market for this fruit.