10 Fruit-growing in Arid Regions 



"In 1870 Mr. G. W. Webster planted a considerable 

 orchard, the trees being brought from California, and for 

 years was an ardent and persistent advocate of the possi- 

 bilities of Colorado for fruit-growing, and was one of the 

 first, with William Lee and J. W. Cook, to exhibit home- 

 grown orchard-fruits at the yearly fairs of the agricultural 

 association of Colorado. Others there were in northern 

 Colorado who planted about this time orchard-fruits, 

 but who, from modesty or other reasons, kept their light 

 under a bushel, and I have not been able to bring them 

 to the light of history. 



"In 1864 or 1865 Mr. Jesse Frazier, of Florence, Fre- 

 mont County, Colorado, brought from Missouri, by team, 

 a quantity of different varieties of orchard-fruit stock, 

 and set them out on his farm at that place. In the files 

 of the Colorado Farmer is a letter to me, giving a full 

 history of this venture of Mr. Frazier 's; but these files 

 are not now accessible. This nursery and orchard was 

 the nucleus from which has sprung the grand achieve- 

 ments of the orchardists of the Arkansas Valley. His 

 example was followed by Mr. Helm and others. I have 

 been disappointed in obtaining more definite information 

 of Mr. Frazier's orchard, but the honor is to him for being 

 the pioneer orchardist of this grand fruit-growing section 

 of our state. 



"So far as I have been able to definitely ascertain, the 

 above-mentioned efforts were the beginning of planting 

 of orchards and nurseries in Colorado. In 1874, 1875, and 

 1876 strenuous endeavors were made through the columns 

 of the Colorado Farmer to arouse an interest in this branch 

 of agricultural industry, and the results were favorable. 

 Rarely were there heard any wails from the disapproving 

 Jeremiahs. These prophets no longer had any honor in 

 the land; pessimists there were, but many more opti- 

 mists could be found. The chief kick was, it would not 

 pay. Nurseries were planted, and they prospered 

 some more, some less." 



