2244 NORTH AMERICAN STATES 



NORTH AMERICAN STATES 



ject to inundation from the Mississippi River. In this 

 part of the state are numerous lakes, bayous and 

 swamps. There are about 6,000,000 acres of these 

 lower-lying lands, of abounding fertility, needing only 

 drainage to make them among the most productive in 

 the world. Along the lower valley of the Arkansas the 

 soil grades into black sandy and "buck-shot," the 

 richest soils of the state. Along the southern border of 

 the Ozarks and Ouachita elevations is a belt which, 

 while belonging to the highland area, represents an 

 intermediate zone between that and the lowland coun- 

 try of the state. It is especially adapted to growing 

 peaches. 



In the lower parts of the state there are also loca- 

 tions affording air-drainage and soils suited to commer- 

 cial peach-growing. On the whole, however, this region 

 will be found best adapted to truck-farming. Some 

 crops, like onions, spinach, and kale, may be planted 

 here in the fall months. Figs, Japanese persimmons, 

 pecans, and some varieties of grapes offer good oppor- 

 tunities, while selected varieties of most north-tem- 

 perate fruits may be grown successfully for home use. 



The principal horticultural industry is the production 

 of winter apples. The leading counties are Benton, Wash- 

 ington and Madison in northwest Arkansas. Transpor- 

 tation facilities have been an important factor in stimu- 

 lating development. Other counties in the Ozarks 

 equally good for fruit lack railroad transportation and 

 for this reason are less developed horticulturally. Quan- 

 tities of second-grade apples go to driers or are con- 

 verted into vinegar. Some fifty-six varieties of apples 

 have originated in Arkansas, some of them being of 

 great commercial value, not only in this state, but else- 

 where. A recently introduced variety is the King David 

 which originated in 1903 near Durham, Washington 

 County. Formerly about 95 per cent of plantings were 

 Ben Davis. More recently there has been a noticeable 

 tendency to plant varieties of better quality. Lead- 

 ing winter varieties of apples at present are Ben Davis, 

 Gano, Black Ben, Winesap, Jonathan, Arkansas, York 

 Imperial, Grimes Golden, Ingram, Givens, Collins, 

 Beach, Stayman's Winesap, Delicious and King David. 



For the past several years, increased attention has 

 been given summer apples. These are grown with 

 success southward as well as in the hill country. Lead- 

 ing varieties are Maiden's Blush, Duchess, Horse, 

 Buckingham, Summer Champion, Red June, Red 

 Astrachan and Yellow Transparent. While an excellent 

 market variety, the last is very subject to "twig- 

 blight," especially in the lower part of the state. 



Second only to the apple-orchard interests is the 

 commercial production of peaches. To S. B. Wing and 

 his brother belong the credit of having shipped the first 

 carload of Elberta peaches out of Arkansas. Thus began 

 the commercial peach industry which has assumed such 

 vast proportions in the state in the past ten years. The 

 Elberta is not so reliable in the higher districts as in 

 some of the counties lying along the southern slopes of 

 the Ozarks and Ouachita Mountains. Here the air- 

 drainage, soil and other conditions are such as to be 

 especially favorable for almost annual crops and peaches 

 of splendid color and quality. The record in Crawford 

 County is about seven crops in ten years. In 1911, 

 orchards in Pike and Sevier counties were practically the 

 only peach orchards in the United States which produced 

 crops. The fruit from these orchards brought prob- 

 ably the highest prices on record for peaches in carlots. 

 The two first cars shipped to New York brought $2,080 

 a car, and later averaged $1,500 a car. Extensive peach- 

 orchard interests have in recent years developed rapidly 

 in Pike County. Commercial plantings are chiefly 

 Elbertas. The shipping season follows that of Texas 

 and Georgia when the markets are slack, which proves^to 

 be a great advantage. Very early peaches for shipment 

 have not proved profitable. Northwest Arkansas will 

 have to find a variety hardier in bud than Elberta. 



Champion, Carman, Slappy, Belle of Georgia, Madison 

 County Mammoth, General Lee, Crosby, and possibly 

 some others are much more reliable varieties for north- 

 west Arkansas, although not so satisfactory for ship- 

 ment as the Elberta. 



Pears are not receiving much attention on account of 

 their susceptibility to "fire blight." Kieffer, Garber, 

 LeConte, Winter pear (Sand pear), Seckel and Duchess 

 are among the varieties least susceptible to blight. 



Cherries are of comparatively little commercial 

 importance at present. The sour cherries are the most 

 satisfactory. There are but few large cherry orchards 

 in the Ozark region. Leading varieties are English 

 Morello, Early Richmond, Montmorency and May 

 Duke. 



Plums were represented in 1909 by 731,276 bearing 

 trees. Leading varieties are Burbank, Red June, Gold, 

 Wild Goose, Poole's Pride, Damson, German Prune. 



Pecan trees are found growing wild in abundance in 

 the cotton section of the state, especially in river-bot- 

 toms. The interest in pecans has rapidly increased in 

 the past three or four years. Some recent single plant- 

 ings contain as high as 400 acres of grafted trees. Some 

 pecans are being grafted on the common hickory. Such 

 trees are known to thrive and bear as well as on their 

 own roots. The Schley and Moneymaker are known to 

 do well in the state. 



English walnuts are receiving practically no atten- 

 tion. How well they would succeed remains to be 

 determined. The black walnut and hickories are com- 

 mon growing wild and occasionally large sweet chest- 

 nut trees are found, although the chinquapin is much 

 more frequent. Some attempts have been made to use 

 the latter as a stock for the sweet chestnut with good 

 success, especially in the case of the large Japan 

 chestnut. 



Grapes thrive in Arkansas. The output of vine- 

 yards at present is used chiefly for wine. The Cynthiana, 

 a variety of native origin, is the most highly valued 

 wine-grape. Saline County some years ago was an 

 important grape- and wine-producing county, the in- 

 dustry being conducted chiefly by German citizens. 

 Owing to state laws against the sale of alcoholic drinks, 

 the industry declined. At present the law allows the 

 producer to sell native wine in quantities of not less 

 than five gallons, not to be consumed at the place where 

 sold, nor sold in the localities having the "five-mile" law 

 or local prohibition. The bottling of unfermented grape- 

 juice offers excellent opportunities. Grapes receive 

 special attention at Tontitown, Altus, Silver Springs, 

 Highland and other points. In the past few years 

 extensive plantings have been made at some points 

 southward. Joseph Bachman, of Altus, has been the 

 originator of several varieties of great merit (Sunrise, 

 Banner, Stark's Star and others). 



Strawberries have been commercially grown in a 

 large way for many years in northwest Arkansas, as 

 well as in counties southward. George P. Murrell, of 

 Austin, shipped the first crate of strawberries to St. 

 Louis some forty years ago. Mr. Bauer, of Judsonia, 

 was also one of the pioneer growers. About 1893, C. H. 

 Gregory commenced the strawberry industry in Craw- 

 ford County, and it has extended northward along the 

 Frisco and Kansas City Southern Railroads in north- 

 west Arkansas and has become one of the most impor- 

 tant branches of fruit-growing in the Ozarks. Leading 

 varieties at present are Excelsior, Klondyke and Aroma. 



Blackberries are canned extensively and grown 

 throughout the state for home use. Wliile shipped to 

 some extent, they are not important as a commercial 

 crop. Currants seem not to thrive. Of gooseberries, 

 Smith and Houghton only prove satisfactory, and these 

 only in the mountain region. 



In the west where irrigation is necessary, orchards are 

 planted in the valleys. In the Ozarks where the rain- 

 fall is ample for the needs of crops, apple and other 



