178 NEBRASKA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY 



H. J. Williams, who is with a Chicago firm of wholesale apple 

 merchants, has purchased and packed apples for fifteen years for the 

 eastern markets which demand fancy fruit. He says: 



"While I have purchased apples in New England, New York, 

 Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, Arkansas, Colorado, and ather fruit dis- 

 tricts, it has been only when the Missouri river territory nortli of 

 Kansas City was short of apples that I have gone elsewhere. I 

 always buy all of my barrel stock from this section when it is to be 

 had. I would rather have the Ben Davis, Gano, Winesap, Jonathan, 

 and Grimes Golden from this territory than from any other apple 

 section of the United States. I also prefer them from as far north in 

 this territory as each variety thrives. The Missouri river apple is 

 not overgrown, yet it has sufficient size. It is unsurpassed for flavor 

 and keeping qualities. It is preferred to the same varieties grown 

 in other sections, by the retail merchants and consumers in Chicago. 

 Considering the price of land, proximity to markets, the quality and 

 appearance, and the ease of growing, this section is not excelled. 

 Cooperation among the growers and strictly up-to.date methods of 

 orchard management should make this one of the very choice produc- 

 ing sections of the world." 



This territory includes eastern Nebraska, western Iowa, north- 

 western Missouri and northeastern Kansas. The loess soil formation 

 of the Missouri river hills is particularly adapted to the growLli a7id 

 maturity of both tree and fruit and the seasons in this latitude have 

 just the right length to finish the fruit and allow it to be gathered 

 and packed during the cool fall weather. This places it into storage 

 in prime condition causing it to keep longer than fruit grown further 

 south which is gathered and packed by necessity during warm 

 weather. 



The flavor and texture of this fruit is concede*! by all authorities 

 to be unexcelled, while the abundant sunshine gives a most attractive 

 appearance. As far back as 1876 at the Centennial E.Kposition. apples 

 from this section won the Gold Medal on quality and this high stand- 

 ing is still retained. The superior texture and flavor over much of 

 the western fruit is undoubtedly due to the fact that it is grown 

 wholly under natural conditions and is not for^^eii to abnormal growth 

 by the application of artificial methods like irrigation, etc. The 

 superior color and appearance over eastern fruit is due (o the 

 abundant sunshine and a freer circulation of comporalnel/ dry aii 

 that has a tendency to hold in check the different fungi the growth 

 of which is favored by moisture and which dulls and mars the appear- 

 ance of the fruit. 



Grapes, strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, and cherries are 

 other fruits that thrive in this territory and can be made to give profit- 

 able returns under proper care. These can be grown between the 

 rows of the trees in the young apple orchard. A 'I except cherries will 



