The Taney County republican. (Forsyth, Mo.) 1895-1992, 1906-04-19
OZARK COUNTRY FRUIT CROP
LARGEST on ReCord-Will lead all Other
Sections.

JShCiSop SAts' hpi' - 'A'
ers from all parts of the state express
the opinion that present indications
point TO the largest fruit yield in the
history of Missouri. The best authori.
ties differ widely as to the financial re-
suits following full yield OF fruit in
this state. Some estimate the surplus
product at 100000, 900. Few place IL
below this figure, and a great many far
in excess thereof, Fruit statistics are
hard to procure, for multiplicity OF
reasons. In the first place, there has
not been a full yield offruit in Missouri
for great many years, and 1t would
he largely matter of guesswork to
assume what full yield would amount
to either in value or bulk.
In round numbers, there are 20,0OO,-
600 bearing apples trees in Missouri, In
this respect Missouri stands at the
head OF the list. New York comes next
with $1,000, 900, and Illinois is a strong
third. Many of the Missouri fruit trees,
however, are yet young, and will not
reach their full bearing capacity for
several years to come. In addition to
apple trees, Missouri ranks away up
in the list in peaches and all kinds Of
small fruits incident to this climate.
The large orchards are practically all
south of the Missouri river. There is
one peach orchard in Howell county
containing $4,000 trees, Still there are
a few pretty large apple orchards
north of the river, but peaches do not
do so well north Of the Missouri river
as in the southern part of the state.
WORTH ALL GRAIN CROPS,
II is not to be doubted that u full
fruit crop in Missouri would be worth
all the grain raised in the state sew
eral times over, and at the same time
Missouri ranks very high as grain
producing state. Missouri fruit pos.
sesses peculiar advantage over near
ly all other fruit that reaches the mar
ket and that is, in point Of llavOr. No
other apples on the market can com.
pare with the better varieties of Mis-
souri apples. Missouri fruit keeps
well, another advantage OF no incon-
siderable value. California apples arc
larger, but they lack in flavor. The
same thing is true of Missouri straw
berries. No strawberries sell 50 well
on the market as the Missouri product.
None are so large and none so finely
favored. There is always II demand for
Missouri Strawberries in any part Of the
country. The Missouri strawberry
growers need not sell a quart Of berries
In this state. The east, north and west
affords ready aud profitable market
And all that is true OF Missouri straw
berries is also true OF southeast Mis-
souri, watermelons. New York and
Chicago stand ready TO buy ever water
melon that can be grown in the south
west: 60 it is more matter OF state
pride than anything else that the mel
on growers market few hundred car
, loads at home.
OZARK ONE VAST oRCHAR
1t is only Of late years that Missouri
ans have been turning their attention
, extensively toward planting large or
= chards; so it may be said in all trutl
I that fruit growing in Missouri, on
! large scale, is only In its infancy
= What the state can accomplish in thi
line is matter for the future to settle
\ Fifteen years ago one could haV
:. travelled over the Frisco or Iron Noun
4 tain, out from ST. Louis, through south
n erp portions OF the state, without not
v ing ANYTHING unusual rs TO the numbe
1 of fruit trees visible from a car window
r II the same person would 90 over tn
same route today it would be impo:
, sible for the large orchards TO escap
attention and excite inquiry. Seen
ingly the Ozark country Is becomin
one vast orchard. Land that fey
years ago was commonly supposed
possess little Or no value is now grow
ing as fine fruit trees as anyone coul
:, wish for. Year after year the orchart
. grow In area. The cost Of maintain
:. ing them is comparatively small, viii
= the returns are large.
II the present year comes up TO e
pectations in producing fruit the vie
:, from this state will undoubtedly be
= large as 10 attract the attention OF Il
entire country, and doubtless Europ
The fact that the best informed mi
!, In the state have no adequate idea
- to what full crop would mean, mt
= convey some intelligence as 10 Il
:, magnitude Of the matter.
. NEVER A TOTAL FAILURE.
: These authorities know pretty w
=, what third crop or half crop meal
because these yields are comm
enough. and while very large, yet th