The Mena weekly star., 1911-09-28


 production are already of vast ex- tent, their magnitude being ade- quately estimated by but few of even our own citizens. l have the utmost confidence in the further development of these splendid com merciaI possibilities in this and oth- CT elevated portions of the state, so thoroughly demonstrated by our success during the past few years. We have great possibilities also along certain lines of truck growing which we are only beginning to ap- preciate and develop. These state ments are based, not upon enthusi- astic dreams, but upon knowledge of the actual conditions and results obtained at the experiment station and by progressive citizens in vari- ous localities. The climate IS su- perb, the water pure, the rainfall ample, and there is soil for every purpose. The opportunities here are no greater than elsewhere for the lazy man, but nowhere are the rewards greater for intelligence and industry in the several lines of ag- riculture and horticulture.
 Apple Lands Still Cheap.
 Apple orchard lands in the high lands portions (above i,200 feet, when considering winter apples) of Arkansas are as yet cheap, com pared with lands no better nor as good in many respects in other sec- tions of the country. But they will not remain cheap long. Select To- cations will be high priced within ten years, and would be now if Arr kansas had been as well known ten years ago as she now is. It would have been different, too, if orchard men generally had been following then the up-to-date methods SC many are following today. Amer ica has just discovered Arkansas and the fact is the state has but lately discovered itself. The north west portions as well have an ele- vation of f,500 feet above sea level The climate is as near ideal all in all as will be found in this country It is rapidly becoming a vast apple orchard as well as health resort for the people northward and southward. The rainfall here is about 48 inches. Orchards do not need irrigation. Fruits develop a flavor that, once known, will al- ways be remembered, and cause the sampler to ask far more. Late freezes kill the apple crop only now and then. One of our prosper ous growers in seventeen years has had fourteen crops of apples. Two years ago his crop from 70 acrAs wals 5000 barrels. They brought $s a barrel. Fancy packed in bushel boxes, as some of our growers are doing, they would have brought half again or twice as much. All we need is larger proportion of the up-to-date type of fruit grow CTS, and we are rapidly getting them.
 The Value of Our Peaches.
 Our opportunities in the line of commercial peach production in certain counties and portions of counties on the rolling lands (the foothills of the Ozarks) are great, indeed, unexcelled, as the wonder ful success of growers in Crawford, Sevier and other counties, and re- gently in Pike county, apmly dem- Onstrate. In the favored counties peaches come at splendid market ing season, following Georgia, when the market is commonly practical ly bare of peaches. The conditions of soil and climate favor the high est quality and color. Moreover, orchards with fair care bear from seven to nine crops in ten. This year some cars of our peaches brought Si crate in New York by the carload. That is much above ordinary prices, hhas.. hha. peaches peaches wei grown and handled pay finely at much less than that price. Packers who have worked in Georgia, Flori- da, Texas and elsewhere in the peach harvest, and this year in Ar kansas, pronounced Arkansas fruit ahead of any they had ever packed.
 Grapes and Pears.
 Grapes find our hill slopes their home. The finest wine grape known in this country (the Cynthiana) is a native child of Ar kansas. The production and bot ting of unfermented grape juice offers excellent opportunities. Our grapes come at season when they would have to compete with peaches northward, if grown for shipment fresh. Very early varie- ties or very late varieties, prefera- bly, the first, would seem to offer the best field for the shipper of fresh grapes.
 The hybrid pears, like Kieffer and Barber, do well if not overstimu- lated, and are at present the best varieties. When grow CTS learn to avoid the conditions which favor blight, other pears may be successfully grown also.
 Strawberries and Melons.
 Strawberries are produced in large commercial quantities at va rIous points over the state and are shipped to Northern markets to the extent Of about 1000 cars each year. It IS an excellent crop for quick re- turns, and with good treatment the eron fe an axeaaa,n.f.. ....ztt1