Kansas Fruits. 131 



Late keepers with us are fall or early winter apples in Kansas ; thus 

 the Rhode Island greening is an autumn fruit there, and the Roxbiuy 

 Russet is best in January, while the Chronical is so hardy that it will 

 remain on or under the tree all winter without injury. Mr. Tanner 

 considers the New York pippin as the best market appb in Kansas, 

 but prefers, for family use, the Winesap and Jonathan. The Sjoitzcn- 

 berg we have always considered the highest flavored apple at the east, 

 and for cooking unequalled, but have seldom tickled our palate with it 

 uncooked, as it is tough and indigestible. We were delighted to find 

 our old favorite so tender in Kansas that we could eat it without any 

 sensation of having swallowed lead. 



We also visited the farm of Dr. Howslcy, who was efficient in collect- 

 ing the sjDecimens for the Philadelphia exhibition, and accompanied 

 Mr. Tanner to that city. Kansas is much indebted to Dr. Hows'.ey for 

 the development of her fruit interests, when the general impression of 

 the first settlers was, that the state would have to rely upon Missouri 

 for her apples. The doctor attributes the excellence of Kansas fruits 

 very much to the climate, which is generally moist till August, so that 

 the fruit gets a large growth, when the season usually becomes dry 

 and remains so till November, thus developing the saccharine quality 

 and vinous flavor to their highest extent. 



The soil of Kansas must share with the climate the credit of pro- 

 ducing her superior fruit. This soil is a black, deep, rich, clay loam, 

 based on limestone, and having just sand enough in it to make it loose 

 and friable. When dry, it crumbles in the hand, and feels as soft 

 under the foot as a compost heap, and when wet, it makes mud of the 

 consistency of putty. It gullies badly on the side-hills, and the little 

 granules constantly rolling down the slopes of the ditches, indicate that 

 porous nature of the soil which is so gratifying to the eye of an ex- 

 perienced farmer. Wherever we find this granidated appearance, we 

 know that the soil is easily permeated by the air, and is the receptacle 

 of the rich stores of fertility which the air contains. The Kansas soil 

 is evidently adapted to fruit, as well as the Kansas climate. For 

 centuries the rank vegetation of the prairies has either decayed, fur- 

 nishing a rich deposit of vegetable mould, or has been burned, leaving 



