The Mena weekly star., 1919-10-09

| warm TOT lhlS tune or year. D0n [ gathered in front of the courthouse, and after being filled with passengers, started for the Knod fruit farm at l Gillham. Here the visitors that came by train were joined by the Polk county folks who made the trip by auto. After looking over the big fruit farm the party travelled to the biggest acreage of strawberries in one body to be found in Sevier county.
 This was at the DeQueenland farm which is separated only by wire fenc- es from the Pet and Big Four farms. Here the visitors saw total of 120 acres in strawberries. The acreage contains the original DeQueenland farm of 50 acres which was started in 1916, and which from two crops paid a dividend of 100 per cent to original stockholders, in addition to increas- ing wonderfully in value.
 ] Capt. D. A. Fore superintendent of these farms and to whom most credit is given for the actual development, showed the visitors every detail of the big venture.
 The surprising thing to the Polk county folks visiting the big strawber- " farm was the character of the soil upon which the fruit is grown. The land is gravelly. and in fact the two most noticeable things are the bright green plants in the rows and the mass of gravel between the rows. There is not level acre on the en- tire farm. Some of the hills break so sharp that it looks almost impossi- ble to get up and down them. The road that crosses the farm follows the backbone of ridge and is as crooked as snakes trail.
 Bought for SIS, Laughed at $100 Offer
 From the big farm the party visit ed the farm of M A. Burt. Mir. Burt has one patch which has produced nine crops of berries without reset ting of plants. Of of three acre patch Mir. Burt netted $l035, he told the visitors He follows the row sys- tenn of culture, and was one of the few growers who favored the Aroma berry over the Klondike.
 Mir. Burt is an enthusiast over ber- ries. He bought his present farm for SIS an acre, and recently was offered $i00 an acre. but is said to have laughed at khe offer"
 Into the Horatio District.
 After dinner the hospitable De- Queen folks were ready with the cars lagain, and this time carried the visit ors into the Horatio berry district, (which is the pioneer in this industry lin Sevier county. Field after field Twas passed on the road side and ev- lery now and then County Agent Wal lace, who was piloting the party, would stop and point out to the visit iiors some particular point in connec- ton with the industry.
 1 In this way the Polk county folks saw old patches and new patches, big patches and little patches, saw Der Tries on new land and old land, Der | ries on gravelly land and others on lsoil brown as a hat. The merits and l demerits of each were pointed out land explained by Agent Wallace and lother berry culturists.
 l Che of the stops made was at a farm owned by Henry Pride, sales manager for the Horatio growers 1 This particular place was in charge oi lA U. Fullerton, who said he bought 1 the crop" that is. he paid rent, cared for the plants and got the crop ready for market.
 First Picking sls0 per Acre. l One field of fine thrifty plants ss5s leontained a trihe less than SIX acres Iand last season one going over of this lpatch netted l52 crates, Mir Fuller. l ton stated. These berries sold fol lS7.50 per crate. making total re Itun to him of Sll40 or about Sl9g an acre. Other pickings increased this net return, but Mr Fullerton dis mot have the figures handy. He stat led the berry fields were valued al I$l50 an acre.
 Late in the afternoon the party re Iturned to DeQueen. where at 6 o'clocI
 lat Hotel Luton. complimentary din liner that was 2 real feast, was givel Ithe visitors by the DeQueen Cham
 bee Of Commerce.
 1 l nthe evening there was a bans
 coneert in courthouse square, and al its conclusion visitors and homefolk.