The Canon City record with which is consolidated the Canon City cannon., 1920-03-25
Orchard Survey
of Fremont Co.

the Colorado Agricultural College at
Fort Collins. containing the results of
an orchard survey of Fremont county,
made few months ago by Z. p. Sand
sten and c. NJ. Tompkins. The bulle-
tin -mbodies much valnabis info=sns-
ton In relation to the horticultural in
dustry of this section. and many inter
esting observations and deductions as
TO its present status and future de.
selopments. AS an Introduction to the
2s-page booklet dealing with the sub
ject. the authors say in part:
'.The orchard survey of Fremont
county was undertaken to ascertain
the present status of the industry and
TO enable the department to render
such aid as would benefit the fruit
growers.
The value Of a survey of this kind
depends upon the accuracy OF the in
formation obtained and the complete
ness of the survey On this account,
IL was decided to visit every orchard
and obtain the information both by
personal inspection and through in
formation obtained from the owner
With this accurate data. properly tab
ula'ed, the department has informa-
tion which otherwise could no; have
been obtained-informati that will
be useful in the solution of some of
the local problems confronting the
grower.
Fremont county. or more properly.
the Canon City fruit district. is the
most important and most highly de-
yeloped fruit district in Eastern Colo
rado. This development is due to
the favorable location of the district;
first. with reference to available water
Tor irrigation; second. to the sheltered
situation Of the valley; third, to the
soil conditions which are. on the
whole. favorable or could be made IA
vorable by drainage and by better
system OF irrigation
The valley Is sheltered on three
! shides and open only to the south
The Arkansas river flows approx
mately through the middle OF the val
ley, which has sufficient fall TO pro
vide good soil and air drainage. The
winter temperature and frost condi
tions are. on the whole. favorable, as
will be seen by the accompanying
meteorological data which Is taken
from the records OF the United States
weather bureau.
The fruit district is rather limited
and confined to the valley proper and
to the small, adjacent messs II lies
In compact body. well served by two
systems OF railroad The only out.
D lxfnn dIofr- ~ In. l.
Penrose or Beaver Creek district. This
district Is of recent development and
is located on a secondary mesa on
Beaver Creek.a tributary TO the AT.
Z kansas river
The Canon City district proper f.
the Oldest developed fruit section on
Z the Eastern slope The pioneer in
I fruit growing Is Capt B. F. Rockafei-
low, who planted one OF the first or
chards in the valley, and TO whom
much credi; should be given in the
way OF trying out varieties and ex-
perimenting. preparatory to the com.
mercial development OF later years.
The valley land about Canon City
is made up of soil deposited by the
flood waters Of the Arkansas river.
''' - 'PHo-Htthties dfluNihl
/ character: the heavier types being
further removed from the river bed
while the lighter or sander types are
relatively close 10 the river The soil.
being made by the action OF the water.
IS naturally rich in the essential ele
ments OF plant food and produces un-
rivailed yields OF farm crops. Many
of the original fruit trees, planted be-
tween 1865 and 1870. are still grow
ing and producing crops. an eloquent
testimony OF soil fertility and the gen
erai suitableness OF the district for
fruit growing The higher lands, or
bench lands, which have come under
cultivation during the last 20 years.
ore, on the whole. better adap pied 10
fruit growing than the land in the val
ley.
The superiority of the bench land
is due, primarily. 10 better air and
soil drainage. The soil OF the bench
land is derived from the adjacent
hills and OF rock formations and is
OF a medium heavy character II Is
quite uniform. with few exceptions.
where adobe is found. but this type OF
soil constitutes very small percent
age OF the total land area. 1t Is
deep, with porus subsoil. and there
Is no danger from seepage. II is
easily worked and permits deep root
penetration. on the whole, the soil
around Canon City is admirably
adapted for fruit growing and for the
growing OF truck crops.
Few fruit sections In the state can
boast OF better air drainage than the