8o Fruit Culture. 



tivation of the grape we find here in soil and climate, con- 

 ditions highly favorable to the growing and ripening this 

 delicious fruit. The supply of water for irrigation, which is 

 already causing serious apprehension in the minds of farmers 

 living along the streams that flow east from the mountains, 

 is in those western rivers inexhaustible. Here we have more 

 rain fall in summer, and more snow fall in the mountains in 

 winter. Thriving springs of pure water abound everywhere 

 in the mountains. The rivers are deep, rapid running 

 streams, carrying a large volume of water through the 

 whole season, affording without stint all the water needed 

 for irrigation a valuable consideration to the Colorado 

 farmer and fruit grower. 



" The soil is rich in all the elements of vegetable pro- 

 duction, and being of a light, ashy color, the heat of sum- 

 mer has not the scorching power as upon dark-colored soils. 

 The degree of cold seldom falling below zero in winter, with 

 an altitude of 4,500 feet, is sufficient evidence of a highly- 

 favorable locality for fruit growing. In considering the 

 profits likely to be gained by fruit culture on this reserva- 

 tion, a glance at the map will show that we are in easy 

 access of Ouray, Lake City, Gunnison, Pitkin, Aspen, Lead- 

 ville, and all the rich mining camps around these thriving 

 towns and cities. 



"The South Park, Eagle River, and Denver and Cali- 

 fornia roads will all pass through this region of country, 

 thus opening up a fruit market in every important mining 

 district in the State. 



" With soil, climate, water and cheap lands at the very 

 door of the best fruit markets in the world, we will now 

 consider the cost and profit of fruit culture under experi- 

 enced management, giving the wholesale quotations of fruit 

 in Denver as the ruling prices, and see what a little money, 

 backed by honest industry, will do in fruit growing in this 

 new Colorado. In an enterprise of this kind much depends 

 upon a correct knowledge of the demands of the markets 



