Semi-weekly herald., 1909-12-13
Every Ffuit Grower
Should Read This


the following letter Is given space
because 1t contains much valuable In
formation which will be of benefit to
the thousand Or more farmers OF this
southwest section who are taking the
Daily and Weekly Herald.
Durango, Colo. Dec. 6. 1908.
To the Hon. p. s. Taylor, Horticul'
tural Inspector of La Plata County
Colorado.
Dear Sir:
In compliance with your request
for my Views as TO the best varieties
of fruit to plant In La Plata county,
and especially with reference to the
higher attitudes, / cheerfully give
them, and sincerely hope that some
suggestion may be outlined by some
one, and strictly followed. so there
may be some uniformity OF planting
and the serious mistakes that have
been quite common In new countries
may be avoided.
regard La Plata county as one Of
the best undeyeloped fruit sections in
the west loday--consldering the char
acter OF the soil. climate, the water
supply and the cheapness of the land
and | predict for La Plata county In
the near future, an extensive acreage
of well kept orchards, producing an
abundant and constant harvest. bring
L.. ID al, f,f
II was once claimed in Oregon that
apples could not be raised at an alti.
tude exceeding 1000 feet. The proph
cts did not know the habits of the ap-
pie, aud that 1t delighted in cold
climate. which gives TO 1t its best fla
vor and excellent keeping qualities.
As the orchards OF Oregon have
crept up the mountain side, 1t has
been demonstrated that the higher the
elevation, the better the apple.
II has also been asserted that cap
ital would not finance ali orchard
scheme beyond 5000 feet altitude.
This fallacy has been exploded by
practical demonstration in the Rocky
mountains.
quite severe on account OF late frosts
in The spring. During both of said
years the yield has been larger and
the quality better, beyond the eleya-
ton of 5000 feet.
My orchards are situated at an alti-
tude OF $500 feet, and from my limit
ed experience l am satisfied that the
maximum limit is still at a higher al
titude.
The apple and pear 10th do exceed
ingly well In high attitudes. raise
Satsuma plum and the Royal Ann
cherry.
II can readily be seen that the in
tending orchard planter In La Plata
county need have no fear of planting
trees such as the apple and pear, pro
viding he has good site and uses
good judgment In the selection OF the
varieties. and gives them proper at
tention.
He will be just as certain of a profit
able result, as In other lines of bust.
ness, that any other man of similar
capital may engage in.
You ask me about varieties. This is
very important question TO deter
mine. because many failures are made
by planting varieties that are not
adapted to the climate where they are
expected to be grown.
Varieties for commercial orchard
should be cut down to two or three,
and 1t is better to alternate the va
rieties in the rows to have the bene
ft of cross-pollination.
AS an abstract proposition, II you
ask Colorado man what variety OF
apples to plant, he will invariably tel
you. Rome Beauties and Jonathans
but we must remember that there Ii
tions In Observation-Disclosures ranging
from an altitude OF 5000 to 1900 feet
and to say that any single variet.
will do well under all these climati,
conditions, is not only absurd but II
vouching too strongly for the char
acteristics of such single variety.
In my Judgment, the people OF Colo
RADIO are planting the Jonathan an,
Rome Beauty to death. The Jonathan
is a fairly good variety. but Is only ;
late fall. or early winter apple. ant
the Rome Beauty is OF poor qualit.
and loses its flavor In midwinter
The Rome Beauty is no better thar
the Ben Davis for flavor and does no
rank with ii in keeping qualities. Boti
the Jonathan and Rome Beauty are
very weak growing trees, and the lat
ter is very easily injured or killed b,
cold winters. Neither of these va
rieties will attain their best at af
altitude OF over G.500 feet
This is also true OF the Grimes
Golden. which is not vigorous grow
er, and does not attain It's normal size
at the higher attitudes. Then why
plant these varieties, If better va
rieties will attain the highest de