CORRESPONDENCE. 135 



HORTICULTURE IN MONTROSE AND OURAY COUNTIES. 

 BY A. D. FAIRBANKS, MONTROSE. 



Among the first to plant fruit trees and small fruits in Montrose 

 County were the following named persons: Gustavus Frost, Boss Broth- 

 ers, Young Brothers, Eldridge Brothers, David Markley, O. D. Loutsen- 

 heizer. Among the first to plant fruit trees and small fruits in Ouray 

 County were the. following named persons: R. H. Higgins, J. Smith and 

 Preston Hotchkiss. 



From four to five years is the extent of time in which fruit of any 

 kind has been cultivated in either of the above Counties, with possibly one 

 exception. K. H. Higgins, who located nine or ten years ago within four 

 miles of Ouray City, and has, for nearly the entire time, grown small 

 fruits of some kinds with marvelous success. The hard}' varieties of 

 raspberries and blackberries he has propagated successfully, and both 

 have fr-uited heavily each year. Currants and gooseberries have also 

 thriven well with him, as have also strawberries. He is located at an 

 altitude of 7,000 feet. 



Apples, cherries, plums and pears are not grown very extensively in 

 Ouray County. 



At an altitude of 6,000 feet, near Montrose, a few families have 

 planted trees with varying results. A Mr. Smith has raised apples and 

 pears, also grapes, at an altitude of 6,000 feet and more, and on the river 

 bottom, Preston Hotchkiss, two miles below, on the Uncompahgre, has a 

 fine start in all varieties of fruit that can be grown in the best parts of 

 the East. The showing, for this time, is wonderful in the growth, vigor- 

 ous appearance, and all that portends to fruit culture. 



The soil is of a dark brown color naturally, and by cultivation turns 

 to a black, loamy appearance. 



The Eldridge Brothers, still lower down the river and in Montrose 

 County, have succeeded commendably. 



O. D. Loutsenheizer, half a mile East of the town of Montrose, and on 

 what may be called a genuine adobe ranch, has, after several fruitless 

 trials on a large scale, succeeded in a small way in fruit raising. 



All small fruits do well on this adobe, and apples, pears, apricots and 

 plums thrive better on this kind of soil, when it is properly managed, 

 than on the river bottom, as the latter, after two or three years, proves too 



