PROGRESS OF FRUIT CULTURE IN KEARNEY COUNTY. 193 



of apples seventeen and eighteen years ago, mostly Ben Davis. 

 This orchard since coming into bearing several years ago, has 

 produced from 600 to 700 bushels per year, and tv^o years ago 

 produced from 1000 to 1200 bushels. Winesaps and Genetans 

 usually inferior in quality and little worth. Mr. Kelly usually 

 cultivates with a disk and harrow, and thinks the quality of fruit 

 has been much improved by spraying, which he usually does 

 from once to three times during the season. John Beishein 

 seven miles north-west has a small number of apples planted 

 twenty years ago, which bore a crop the past year of from five to 

 seventeen bushels per tree. Planted last spring about one hun- 

 dred trees, consisting of apple, some cherries and peaches, 

 which cost him a little less on an average than $1.00 per tree, 

 with pears at $1.50 each, bought of an agent of an eastern 

 dealer. Says he does not care about the cost if they only grow. 

 Alonzo Springer reports two-hundred of apples and cherries in 

 good condition, bearing good crops of from five to ten bushels 

 per tree, with Duchess and Early Harvest in the lead. John 

 Havens, section 16-7-14, reports an orchard of six-hundred apple 

 trees, seventy-five cherry, two-hundred budded peaches, and 

 two-thousand seedlings. Many of these latter killed by the ice 

 storm on the 29th and 30th of April, 1903. Balance of trees in 

 good condition. This is a contract orchard where he gives one- 

 half the crop for a series of years. Mr. Haven sends samples 

 of seedling apples which has borne a heavy crop of fruit for 

 several years, of excellent quality. He wishes the samples in- 

 spected by this association. 



Mr. Buchanan, section 8-7-14, near the above, reports another 

 contract orchard of eight-hundred apples, one-hundred cherries, 

 and six-hundred and fifty peaches. Apples five years old, and 

 cherries and peaches two and eight years old, all in good con- 

 dition, with the exception of the English Morellos which are all 

 gone. Mr. Shearer also reports similar to the above, about 

 twelve-hundred trees in good condition, and had two-hundred 

 bushels of peaches. Mr. Shearer cultivates with disk and har- 

 row, as per contract. 



Edward Krick reports two-hundred apple trees planted 

 twenty-three years ago, twenty-eight feet apart, with no wind- 

 break for protection, and has borne good crops for many years. 



