The Canon City record with which is consolidated the Canon City cannon., 1913-08-14
FRUIT RAISING IN ARKANS AS
VALLEY
BY HORACE r. OF nASzAsoLA, PUEBLO srARJoURSAL


Byers. pioneer editor OF the Rocky
Mountain News. did much TO make
known the progress Of horticulture in
Colorado. who took great interest and
pride in the advancement of horticul-
ture Of our state
The first orchard planted in the Ar
kansas valley east Of Pueblo was pat
out by Gilmore & Owens in 1875. In
Pueblo county. near Nepesta. Joseph
Graham and R. o. Mccain soon fo.-
lowed Senator swink was the FIRST 10
set fruit trees at Rocky Ford. SEN
ator Crowley was the first TO start a
nursery and 70 set an orchard on an
extensive plan in 1ss5. At the pres
ent time otero county has s.4so acres
OF improved fruit lands and. besides
being the first county in the state In
agriculture. We are fast gaining SUI
[premncy In horticulture.
II was on the goth day Of septembc-.
1850. IS people met at the office Of the
Colorado Farmer In Denver and or
sanized the State horticultural socie-
|ty. The nrst premiums were award
ed at the first recorded Horticultural
fair which was held In June, So.
In treating with the fruit industry
Of the Arkansas valley east Of Pueblo
to the state line. Of which am mott
familiar. do not believe there is aay
DISTRICT more productive for the grow
ing Of fruit adapted TO this eiimat, :,
the principal ones being apples. cher
ries. gooseberries. grapes and small
fruit.
An apple orchard Of mature years
that has been brought into bearing IN
good condition. Is capable Of produc-
ing from 20 TO so boxes OF fruit PER
tree. In n good fruit year ~e estimass
carload OF fruit 20 the acre. or 500
boxes OF merchan;abie fruit.
The-orehards Of the Arkansas val
ley contain from IS to SO trees TO the
acre All varieties OF apples do we'll
here. especially the Ben Davis. Pip
pin. Wine Sap. Black T~ig and Jons-
than The principal ono and the
greatest money maker is the Bea
Davis. This apple is not 20 REGARDED
In the East. but with Us II grows Ia
perfection. large. and takes n deep
, red color. and. while II does not bring
the fancy prices Of the other varieties.
the trees grow very large and ha-iy.
often producing as high as 40 or %
boxes OF fruit.
n. F. Bowers Of Nanranola. one OF
our leading horticuifurists. has we'll
kept orchard Of Is acres from which
he has received as high as $4,000
for a single crop.
Lee Greedy. another of onr SUGGEST
fui apple growers who takes special
pride In the growing Of fruit. has L.
ceIved as high as $4,000 for single
crop harvested from ss acres.
Senator }. h. crowley. OF Rocky
Ford. has an orchard OF over 100
acres and is considered our pioneer
fruit grower. putting out his arst
large orchard in 1856. the year before
the town lot sale In Rocky Ford. and
to him great credit is due for The
planting Of orchards In this valley.
and for years Fairsiew Place has been
tho show fruit farm Of southern COL
orado. And no one man in the state
has given more OF his time and money
In advocating and travelling about at
tending horticultural meetings aud
lecturins TO fruit growers. Al the
present time he is president OF our
local association and president of the
State Horticultural society
The Arkansas valley seems to be
especially adapted to the growing of
cherries and IL destined 10 be the