12 
A PRELIMINARY REPORT ON THE 
Ill what we may call the Southern District, embracing 
the territory south of the divide and east of the range, 
the fruit lands are mainly in the valley of the Arkansas. 
There are about 3,150 acres now in fruit in this district, 
dirtributed through nine Counties. Fremont County 
leads, with 1,000 acres. It has been called the “banner 57 
fruit County of the State, and deservedly, so far as apples 
are concerned. Here are some of the oldest and finest 
orchards in the State. 
* “ The first fruit trees were set out in Fremont County 
in 1867. Mr. W. C. Catlin went to Pueblo for an invoice 
of trees which had been ordered by himself and by Gov. 
Anson Rudd, Mr. W. A. Helm and Mr. Jesse Frazier. 
They had been brought, across the plains in a wagon to 
Pueblo, and Mr. Catlin brought them to Canon; some¬ 
thing over $500 worth of trees occupying a small space 
in his wagon. A few of these trees, and only a few, are 
still living. After his first attempt, which was almost a 
total failure, Jesse Frazier procured several thousand 
root grafts and set them Out in nursery rows. When 
they became large enough, he transplanted them into his 
orchard.” Thus was started what is now the largest 
bearing apple orchard in the State. This orchard has 
amply repaid the care and labor bestowed upon it. It is 
now’ in its prime, and will continue to be a source of great 
profit to Mr. Frazier. His crop for the year 1888 w^as esti¬ 
mated at 15,000 bushels, bringing the total production 
for the first ten years of its bearing existence above 53,000 
bushels. 
President Felton, of the State Horticultural Society,, 
gives the following ns the returns from his orchard at 
Canon City for the year 1889 : 
* Judge W. B. Felton before State Horticultural Society. See 
Report 1887-88, page 275. 
