ORCHARDS ON THE PRAIRIES. 268 



large an orchard, over a period of eleven years, is a matter of much 

 interest, and I am permitted to give you the following figures : In 

 1880, 1,594 bushels were gathered ; in 1881, 3,887 ; in 1882, 12,037; 

 in 1883, 12,388; in 1884, 11,726; in 1885, 15,373; in 1886, 34,- 

 990; in 1887,33,790; in 1888, '20,054; in 1889, 11,952; and in 

 1890, 79,170 bushels. The last crop, it will be noticed, is more than 

 double that of any previous year. This, at the high prices which 

 ruled, gave a gross income of about $50,000. The entire outlay for 

 the year, including barrels for shipment, amounted to $14,000, of 

 which $7,000 were paid for picking. This left a net profit of $36,- 

 000, or $82.38 an acre, which gives considerable color to the story 

 which went the rounds of the press during the fall that the crop from 

 many Kansas orchards this year had sold for more than the entire 

 land was worth. 



His Jonathans gave Mr. Well house the best prices, bringing from 

 $3.50 to $3.75 a barrel of three bushels. Ben Davis, Winesap, and 

 Missouri Pippin were contracted to eastern firms at $3 a barrel. 

 During the entire eleven years the Missouri Pippin has taken the lead 

 for profit, and this year's returns placed it still further ahead. The 

 Winesap they have not found as profitable as the other sorts, the size 

 of the fruit averaging too small, and it is not included in their new 

 plantations. The York Imperial they regard as a promising apple 

 for their locality, and they are planting it quite extensively. The 

 Gano, a new apple originating with a fruit-grower of that name near 

 Lee Summit, Missouri, was mentioned with much favor by Mr. 

 Wellhouse. It is described as closely resembling the Ben Davis in 

 tree and fruit till the latter begins to color, when it takes a much 

 deeper color, has more yellow and firm flesh, and is generally con- 

 ceded to be a better keeper. Mr. Wellhouse closed his remarks by 

 adding, very aptly, that he was looking with a good deal of interest 

 for the coming apple, and wanted to get some trees of it to plant. 



In the general report on fruits from different parts off the state the 

 Winesap received rather better treatment, and will doubtless continue 

 to be planted largely as a reliable late keeper of much better quality 

 than either Missouri Pippin or Ben Davis. Rawle's Genet, except in 

 a few favored localities, was declared to crack and rot badly on the 

 trees, besides keeping poorly after it was gathered. It is being largely 

 discarded. 



