The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-04-14
the old men, '"omen and childrei
managed TO live until spring.
SuccexsfuI Farming Begun,

managed to live until spring.
Surcexnful Farming Begun.
In the spring the men and boys re-
turned home from the mines and prep
arations for farming began in earnest
Land was cleared and gardens were
planted with many varieties Sf vegc
tables. The colonists set out a few
grape vines and planned large vine
yards. obtaining from their friends
In Italy cuttings of the Italian va
rietles Of grapes. Grapes had not been
cultivated In the neighborhcod until
introduced BY the Italians. Several
varieties Of apples and peaches were
also set out, following the plans OF
the native farmer. Coming from the
vineyard and orchard sections of Italy,
fruit culture was not new to them.
They also had shoots of the Italian
willow cent over. These grew rapidly,
and to them they tied their vines.
Al first the colony numbered 25O
people, counting the TWO groups that
came first. They had control of 500
acres of land. Much OF the land was
covered with brush and trees. and
considerable work was required to put
were not large, there being about ten
acres. all told TO a family. which they
cleared one acre AT a time. They now
own 1000 acres. one-half of 1t under
cultivation. having total valuation
vi nearly $4,000. There are about
seventy Italian families in the colony
numbering practically 400 persons
or the tctai number OF families in
the colony. other than the pioneer set
tiers, ten came direct from Europe
because they had relatives here. and
five came from Eastern cities. The
great ma iority OF families migrated
from the sugar plantations of Louis
lana or from the cotton plantations
along the Mississippi River In Arkan
sas and Mississippi. Within the past
few years several families have lno"cd
in from other parts OF the country.
Most Of the cheap land has been taken
up but. by going some distance away
from the town, land similar TO the
orig purchase may he found. though
the price has greatly advanced within
the past few years.
Berries and Fruits.
The vines set out each year soon
produced large quantities OF grapes,
most OF which. by Italian methods, arc
made into sour wine. Each settler has
small storehouse. built underground.
in which he keeps his wine. In this
locality wine sells at from IS cents
to 81 per gallon, and II is said that
an acre OF grapes will yield from :0V
10 ovV StIiOuS req VINE.
AS the colony grew the apple and
peach orchards began ~ produce, until
now many o! the Italians are able IT,
derive comfortable incomes from their
fruit alone. The fruit industry in
Northwest Arkansas has developri
wonderfully within the past quarter o,
century. and the Italians have been
able 10 profit by this development. The
stra wbcrry industry has grown encr-
mously. Following the general Gus
tom. the plants are set in the spring
at distance OF eighteen to twenty
inches, in rows three and one half feet
apart. Soil and location play an i'm
portant part in productiveness of this
crop. and by exercising care in these
two particulars good yields are OBJ
tanned. Red and black raspberries are
grown TO some extent.
The acreage OF peaches is probably
less than that Of apples. The liberia
peach is the commercial variety, but
other varieties are also being grown
extensively. a full crop is obtained.
however, but once in three or four
years. The Ben Davis is the chief
apple grown, and practically 10 per
cent. OF the apple orchards arc OF this
variety. II is of good color, ships well.
Is of better quality than that grown in
the North, and is very prolific. The
Ionathon and Winesap are produced
to some extent. and these are OF good
color and keep we'll. During the hrst
lew years OF fruit farming Tontitown
farmers paved little attention to prun-
ing, spraying and fertilizing, but re-
Gently there has been a change, and
much time and money are expended on
these processes
Property Owned.
'rba T,on,,e zon,o tive
their flower gardens. and each OF the
TO the front door. Many varieties OF
the common flowers are found. Al
the side of the houses arc the vege
table gardens, and extending beyond
these arc the vineyards and orchards.
Seventy families own their land, and
all but few have their property free
from debt. The land for which they
paid IS to SIS per acre ten years ago
Is now worth $40 to SIS per acre:
highly improved land or that lying
near Tontitown is worth 500 per acre.
The increase has been largely due to
the influx of immigrants, who have
taken the uncleared land, cut down the
trees and set out the orchards that
are now making the land valuable. The
estimated value of tho Italian property
is S1I5.000 Some of the more pros
porous farmers have bank accounts,
and many have very respectable bal
anccs TO their credit They arc noted
for their ability to save and their ca
pacity for hard work.
Since coming to this locality the
Italians have nearly tripled their
original holdings OF land The houses
have grown from small onc-room log
cabins, whose cracks were pastcrcd