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Show MOST ANCIENT APPLE TREES. Planted by Spaniards In New Mexico, They Have Borne Fruit 300 Years. Kl l'aso, Tux. The oldest npplo orchard In America If not In tho world Is In tho ceutor of tho nnrlont town of Manzano, IS miles southwest of Kstanrla, Torrunco county, New Mexico. Mex-ico. Many of tho ttoes uu nioio than six feet In circumference, but ull nre still fruitful and vigorous although neglected for generations, l.tttlo Is known of the history of this orchard, but tho oldest Inhabitants of tho valley val-ley of the Hlo Grande remember tho orchard from childhood nnd claim that tho trees havo not changed In appearance since then. Veuernblo Mexicans' and I'ueblo Indians tell of visiting tho orchard as far hack as thoy can remember and finding apples on the ground In nil stages of decomposition decom-position at least two feet deep. Tho Kstancla nlley haB been peopled peo-pled for ages, probably by tho kinsmen kins-men of tho natives found by tho Spanish Span-ish oxplorcrs at Gran Qulvlra, Abo and other ancient cities, l'robnbly In tho early days of the Spanish occilpa tion some Franciscan monk found his way to .Manzano and there planted the scedB that havo developed Into these venerable trees. They am no doubt fully 300 jears old. Closo by tho orchaid Is a little lake fed by a largo spring. A short ills-tanco ills-tanco awny Is u grovo of pines nnd cedars, making an Ideal placo for picnic and camping paitles. |