2208 NORTH AMERICAN STATES 



NORTH AMERICAN STATES 



truck-farmers may be found prospering near every city 

 and large quantities of their products are shipped from 

 many points in the northeast counties and the Arkansas 

 Valley towns. 



The early fruit-growers planted large numbers of 

 varieties that proved to be poorly suited to Kansas 

 climate. Such standard eastern varieties as Hubbards- 

 ton, Northern Spy, Baldwin and Rhode Island Green- 

 ing ripened prematurely and had to compete with 

 the fall varieties. These have been dropped from the 

 list of recommended varieties. In this era of elimination 

 the varieties which have been retained are those that 

 have generally proved productive and profitable. 

 Grimes', Jonathan, Winesap, York Imperial, Stayman, 

 Arkansas or Black Twig, can compete in any market 

 for the highest prices. . 



In the northeastern counties, most of the orchards 

 are kept in clover or orchard-grass much of the time, to 

 prevent erosion. That these deep moist soils are well 

 adapted to this system of management is indicated by 

 the successful crops borne in seasons when the rainfall 

 is much below the normal. In the Arkansas Valley 

 clean cultivation and cover-crops are the rule. 



The barrel is the favorite package and a large part of 

 the crop finds a market in the cities and towns of the 

 states north and east. Barreling in the orchard is a 

 common method, and the fine autumn weather usually 

 occurring in this section makes this an economical 

 practice. The fruit from the Arkansas Valley orchards 

 is graded more closely as a rule, and the grades, fancy 

 and extra fancy, packed in bushel boxes for the south- 

 ern and southeastern markets. The fruit below fancy 

 grades usually has found a ready market in the "wheat 

 country" of the central and western part of this state 

 and the "cotton belt" of Oklahoma and northern 

 Texas. Some of the more isolated orchards have sold 

 their entire crop to the "wagon trade" from surround- 

 ing farm country. The fancy grades compete in any 

 market with the best grown anywhere. Grimes, Jona- 

 than, Rome Beauty, and Winesap are the quality 

 apples of Kansas and nowhere do they reach a higher 

 degree of perfection. 



Early apples are increasing in favor with the Arkan- 

 sas Valley growers. Good markets have been the rule, 

 and this section can send good pie stock to market by 

 July 1 and good dessert apples by July 15. Early Har- 

 vest and Red June have been largely replaced by Yellow 

 Transparent, Cooper, and Wealthy. Maiden Blush is 

 still in favor and Liveland Raspberry is being set in 

 considerable numbers. 



In spite of the erratic climatic conditions, peaches are 

 grown in many counties. The Kansas grower sets 

 peaches with the expectation that late frosts will injure 

 at least half the crop in the northern half of the state 

 and one-third in the southern half, but even with such 

 losses occurring, when well cared for, peaches give good 

 returns. Elberta has been more generally planted than 

 any other variety, owing to its desirability as a shipper 

 and canner, but many growers who supply local mar- 

 kets plant a number of varieties. Amsden, Champion, 

 Greensboro, Triumph, Carmen, Mountain Rose, Craw- 

 ford, Bonanza, Solway, Family Favorite, and Crosby 

 have been generally successful. Many farmers still 

 plant seedlings in a small way. 



Sour cherries and the cultivated native plums are 

 successfully grown in a variety of soils, but large plant- 

 ings are seldom set. The Labrusca varieties of grape 

 are particularly successful in the northeastern counties, 

 and the vineyard acreage is increasing. In the southern 

 counties the Labrusca varieties are to some extent 

 being succeeded by some of Munsen's hybrids of Vitis 

 Lincecumii. 



The acreage of small-fruits has fluctuated in some 

 sections, but the total acreage has steadily increased. 

 Wathena and Troy in Doniphan County have made 

 larger shipments than any other points, but large 



quantities are marketed locally by growers near the 

 larger cities and towns. 



Potatoes and sweet potatoes are shipped from the 

 state in considerable quantities. The sandy soils of the 

 Kansas and the Arkansas valleys produce most of the 

 carlot shipments. Both Irish and sweet potatoes are 

 grown for local market in most of the counties and a 

 large part of the Irish potato crop is dug early and sold 

 as new potatoes. The acreage devoted to sweet potatoes 

 increases steadily. The northern and western markets 

 seem to prefer the dry-fleshed potato from Kansas to 

 the moister varieties of the South. The Yellow Jersey 

 is the most widely grown, the short, well-shaped roots 

 developing early giving the growers a chance at the 

 early markets North and West, and a considerable 



2507. Kansas, with the four main regions. 



part of the crop is dug and shipped for this early trade. 

 This practice of selling early accounts, in a large meas- 

 ure, for the low-acre yields often reported by growers of 

 Irish and of sweet potatoes, while the profit an acre 

 compares well with other localities. 



Several localities in southern Kansas have developed 

 an extensive trade in vegetables with Oklahoma and 

 Texas towns, shipping corn, tomatoes and melons south 

 after their early truck crops have been marketed. 



Watermelons are grown on a large scale in many 

 localities. In earlier years the watermelon crop was 

 uncertain owing to the injury from the melon louse, 

 which infested fields where the crops were grown 

 continuously for a number of years. With the general 

 adoption of a reasonable rotation, Kansas is a regular 

 factor in the late melon market. The difficulty of 

 having the soil sufficiently rich for melons and not over 

 strong for sweet potatoes is met by using corn or Irish 

 potatoes or tomatoes between melons and sweet pota- 

 toes. Alfalfa is now being grown on soils that a few 

 years ago were considered hopeless for that crop. Ma- 

 nure is an essential in getting alfalfa started in these 

 sandy soils, but, once started, it yields well and the 

 soil can be made ready for melons. One great value of 

 alfalfa as a crop to precede melons is the comparative 

 freedom from weeds. 



Near Kansas City, Leavenworth, Atchison, Topeka, 

 and Wichita, a considerable interest in cut-flower crops 

 is being developed, and many of the smaller cities 

 afford good support to local florists. Near the larger 

 cities an increasing industry is the summer crop of 

 cut-flowers. Peonies for the Memorial Day trade are 

 gaining in favor and thousands of buds are held in cold 

 storage for this demand. Gladioli and summer crops 

 of roses usually prove fairly profitable. 



The nursery business has long been important in this 

 state. For years large areas of apple seedlings have 

 been grown in the Kansas River Valley. The deep, 

 strong soil produces a very high-grade stock and grow- 

 ers are improving their methods, generally using alfalfa 

 in rotation chosen to secure the best possible condition 

 of soil. The state ships many carloads of nurseiy stock 

 other than apple stock and the trade increases steadily. 



