The Japanese Persimmon in Arkansas. 211 



old friend D. B. Wier, well remembered by all Illinois fruit men, 

 has found " the promised land " hidden away among the prairies- 

 and forests of Arkansas. He will tell us what he knows about 



THE JAPANESE PERSIMMON IN ARKANSAS. 



BY D. B. WIER OF ARKANSAS. 



Arkansas, by reason of its geographical position and magnifioent climate, 

 should be. and will be, the early fruit and vegetable garden of the great North- 

 west. Her northern half, the upland, or hill region, is the home of the apple, 

 the peach, the plum, and perhaps the pear, as well as of all the small fruits, 

 including the grape and cherry. Nowhere, I think, are the trees and plants 

 o these fruits more healthy or longer lived, and certainly nowhere are they 

 of finer flavor, size and color. The northwestern third of the State is pecu- 

 liarly adapted for the apple. This standard fruit is there grown of the finest 

 size, color and quality, the tree exceedingly healthy and long Kved. It is also 

 finely adapted to all other hardy fruits. This region having now direct rail- 

 road connection with West Missouri, Kansas and Nebraska and the whole 

 Northwest, it is worthy of the attention of fruit-growers. The region is very 

 healthy, water the very best, and land cheajj. It is settling up fast with first- 

 class, energetic people. 



The northwest center of the State, with all its mineral riches and splendid 

 scenery, is also one of the finest of fruit regions. It is also soon to be opened 

 up by a line of railroad, North and South, opening up to it the splendid mar- 

 kets of Memphis and cities beyond on the South, and Kansas City and otiier 

 fine markets North. 



The south line of the hill country from Newport, on White river, to Little 

 Rock, is already developed to some extent as a fruit producing region. With 

 an outlet to markets North and South by the great Iron Mountain railroad 

 route, it sends vast amounts of fine, early fruits to the great St. Louis market 

 and also to Texas. This railroad, stretching from the northeast to the south- 

 west corner of the State, gives the fruit-grower along its line a choice of either 

 the Northern or Texas market. This road is bordered on both sides of its 

 entire length by splendid fruit lands. The same is true of the Little Rock 

 and Fort Smith railroad. The climate of all this northern portion of the 

 State is exceedingly healthy, except in the lowest bottom lands along the 

 streams. There is room for tens of thousands of. energetic fruit-growers. 



But I was to write of the persimmon. Well, I will come to it in due 

 time. 



The greater portion of Southern Arkansas and all its eastern side is well 

 nigh a level plain, with a soil composed of either alluvium or clayey silt, gen- 

 erally covered with a heavy growth of timber. Nearly all of the eastern por- 

 tion of the State, except Crowley's ridge, which reaches from Helena to the 

 Missouri line, overflows to some extent in times of extreme high water. 



