The Newark journal., 1908-07-24
FRUIT AND BERRY GROWING
A. A. Henderson Endorses Movement and Predicts Return of Prosperity

Editor Journal: Not desiring to appear conspicuous, by having my name appended to an article in any newspaper, and certainly not desiring to apear as agitator in ary movement, for fear might appear too conspic- uous, and bring down upon myself censure from those who, perhaps, re- garded themselves as having a deeper interest than l may have, but some- times circumstances and conditions justify a departure from this rule, or any other rule.
 In perusing the columns of The Journal of last week, I notice an an- nouncement for a meeting at the Rat ton Hall, to be held on the lst day of August, for the purpose of organizing a Berry and Vegetable Growers Association 7
 Just at this time and from the pres ent outlook, I cannot refrain from speaking kindly, and in my feeble way, rendering whatever encouragement, l can to this movement. The time, conditions, and environments of our community are most suspicious and ripe for just such d movement,
 The conditions of our whole com munity are not the same that they were five years ago, and perhaps never will be again as a result Of the changed methods Of utilizing our riyer-bottom lands, and thereby abandoning the growingof cotton and corn, for alfalfa, which is much more remunerative to the landowner than renting the land at 5 o0 per aeere. Me also=have d territory north of us, ten miles long and five miles wide, that is fast wear ing away and becoming worthless. when planted to corn and cotton. This territory is tributary te Newark, and whatever it has to sell is brought here, as matter of course. No reasonable competition could alienate, or divert this trade from our city. Almost every adapted to the successful growing of berries and small fruits, as well as vegetables. This hill land, lying to the northeast of us, for ten miles, is as fine for the above named products as other localities in our state, where land cannot he purchased for less than $l00.00 per acre. Compare the land with that around Judsonia, Beebe, Van Buren, or any other place in the state where they are now growing berries, vegetables and small fruits successfully, and the people are pros porous and happy, and you will find that our soil on all these lands above mentioned possesses every requisite necessary to come up to par, if not to excel the land contiguous to the places named.
 These lands when utilized in this way, are capable of yet sus- taing dense population, besides be- coming the most valuable of any other lands, on account of their nearness to a railroad. and their peculiar adapta- Iion bO liit SIoNNil VI blitS0 lgiodhtto.
 The facilities for growing enormous crops of cotton and corn are not to be found here any more, besides the growing of vegetables, berries and small fruits, is much more profitable, the labor necessary to be expended IS much less, and the season of the year in which the necessary labor is to be performed, in order to grow these crops, is much more pleasant than in grow ing cotton.
 Every man would like to have his tion, and it is his duty to see that his child does acquire such. But we all know that the cotton field is a menace to our public school system, and thereby deprives your child of it's just rights.
 Let this community adopt the plans mentioned above, and 1 verily believe that the satisfaction and comfort from this alone would amply repay every thoughtful man. Because these are harvested at a time the weather con- ditions are pleasant, and the labor ot harvestingis light, and such that every child can assist, and its earning capa- city during the time of gathering is very short, and the child will have much more time for educational i'm provement than in cotton field
 1t does not require the ownership oi hundreds of broad acres of land, either,