Leading Apple Regions of the United States 59 



commercial orchard describes the general farm manage- 

 ment scheme. As may be expected, where apple-growing 

 is only one of a number of enterprises, the general care 

 given orchards is not as highly intensive as in some sec- 

 tions. Commercial production at the present time comes 

 from a comparatively few well-cared-for orchards. 



ARKANSAS VALLEY OF KANSAS 



The Arkansas Kiver Valley in south central Kansas 

 is a distinct region which requires separate treatment. 

 Apple plantings in this valley are confined largely to the 

 sandy loam soil along the river and are in Reno, Sedg- 

 wick, Sumner and Cowley counties. Not all the valley 

 land is suited to apples and plantings are spotted. Many 

 of the orchards are irrigated with water pumped from 

 wells and it is the only section east of Colorado in which 

 irrigation is practiced in the growing of apples. 



Heavy plantings were made in the period 1907 to 

 1910 and this region will be of increasing importance as 

 trees attain full bearing. Winesap and Ben Davis are 

 the leading varieties, while Jonathan, Black Twig, Gano, 

 York Imperial, Grimes and Rome Beauty are of less 

 importance. On account of irrigation and other farm 

 management practices in vogue, the Arkansas Valley has 

 more in common with the western irrigated districts than 

 with the typical Middle West sections. Furthermore, 

 while bulk shipments represent a large portion of the 

 crop, a considerable percentage of the output is marketed 

 in boxes. No barreling is done. A full crop from this 

 region would be equivalent to about 250,000 barrels at 

 present. Increased production may be expected. 



