The Delta independent., 1908-12-11
Apple Growing in Colorado.

<APPiS SioWlIR flOW OIt VI Tie
stable branches of fruit growing in
Colorado, and the Colorado Jonathan is
nearly as well known as the Rocky
Ford cantaloupe.
The following points in regard to
this industry in Color ado will be of
interest to the many people who are
thinking of investing in orchard lands:
The highest development in apple
growing has been attained in the
counties of Fremont, Garfield, Mesa,
Delta and Montrose. The largest
areas of orchard land yet to be de-
veloped are perhaps in the counties of
Montrose, LaPlata and Montezuma
The price of orchard lands is variable
and depends upon the location, char
acter of the soil, and the water supply.
Choice, unimproved land, with good
water, may still be had for 500 an
acre. Improved land in favorable loca-
tions is usually higher. Apple orchards
in full bearing are commonly considered
to be worth 81, 900 an acre; this price,
however, is often exceeded.
The average net returns from good
apple orchards, intelligently managed.
will range from 5000 to S400 an acre.
Fifteen hundred dollars net returns
have been received from single acre,
and as large an orchard as forty acres
has brought the owner net income of
$4,000 in a single season. While the
horticulture..of Colorado is in.its infancy,
commercially dating from 1880, enough
has been done to demonstrate that we
will soon be in the foremost rank, and
there is no longer any question as to
the stability of the business.
Is there danger of overproduction?
We do not think so-not of first-class
fruit. The distance from markets
makes it imperative that fancy fruit be
produced; the inferior grades are
usually marketed at loss. But the
conditions of soil, climate. and altitude
are such that frst-class fruit is easy to
grow, if intelligence is used. One of
the big advantages we have is the fact
that but few of the many orchard
diseases have appeared. Our fruit
growers have never used Bordeaux
mixture, and most of them do not know
what it is. We believe that this i'm
munity will, for the most part be
permanent.
Our markets are world wide, as our
fruit is sent to all parts of the United
States, from Boston to San Francisco.
and Mexico and is being exported to
Europe.
People from the East find it difficult
to understand how it is possible for the
Colorado fruit grower to realize price
of from one to two dollars bushel for
apples. 1t is simply due to size, color,
freedom from blemishes, an attractive
package, and honest packing. The dis
tance from markets has forced our
growers into combinations. Fruit
growers associations are in successfi
operation in all important fruit districts
A competent manager is employed who
looks after the sale of fruit and OF e
purchasing of the supplies which are
used upon the fruit farm. Thus the
grower may be relieved of all of the
burdens of marketing. The growing
of fruit is complex business and is all
that the average man should attend to.
The outlook for the future in apple
growing is bright and offers special
inducements to the man of small means.
This is true, Cor the reason that from
five to ten acres of orchard, well man.
aged, will produce splendid income.
Any one with capital enough to buy the
land, can plant the trees and :have
paying orchard in from six to ten years
time.
w. PADDOCK,
Colorado Agricultural College, Fort
Collins