FRUIT INTERESTS OF THE STATE. 
15 
Counties have become prominent in the matter of fruit 
growing, namejy : Montrose, Delta and Mesa. 
The development of these Counties has been phe¬ 
nomenal. In the tenth year after the removal of the Ute 
Indians and the opening of the reservation to settlement, 
the fruit growers of these Counties place before the public 
the largest and finest exhibition of fruits ever shown in 
the State, and the best the writer ever saw in any State. 
The first planting of fruit was made in Delta County in 
1882, and soon after small areas were planted in Mesa 
County. It was not, however, until the year 1886 that 
planting became general. The wonderful growth and 
precocity exhibited by the trees first planted on the North 
Fork and about Grand Junction and Fruita served to 
prove the adaptability of the soil and climate to the rais¬ 
ing of fruit, and a large area was that year planted. 
In Montrose County, the early settlers devoted them¬ 
selves entirely to the raising of farm crops and vegetables, 
up to the year 1886 ; then fruit planting commenced, and 
the County now has 600 acres of growing orchards, with 
every indication that this area will rapidly increase. 
Trees seem to do equally well, whether on the adobe soil 
of the river bottoms, or on the red, sand}" loam of the 
higher mesas. So universally successful is the growing 
of fruit, that the industry bids fair to surpass all other 
industries of the County. 
Orchards vary in sife from two or three acres, to 100 
acres. The trees are thrifty, clean and unmarked by dis¬ 
ease or the ravages of insects. As examples of Montrose 
County orchards, I may mention those of Mr. Wm. B. 
Upton, Judge John C. Bell, and Bell Brothers. 
Mr. Upton’s orchard, on adobe bottom, at an altitude 
of 5,800 feet, covers twenty-five acres. He began by set¬ 
ting a few trees in 1886, and has each year made addi¬ 
tions, until now he has: 
