Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1889-10-06
THE JONATHAN APPLE.
Tothe Editor of the Eagle.


Tothe Editor ofthe Eagle
The apple is acknowledged superior to
all fruits, and the Jonathan apple
should be admitted superior to all apples.
1t is nearer perfect than any other va
riety and ought to be more generally
cultivated. If were to plant 1000 acres
of apple orchard tomorrow would plant
all Jonathans. Before | came to Kan
sas had in bearing the largest collection
of apples in the United States and be-
came familiar with the growth and
habits of several hundred varieties, in
GLIDING all the standard old varieties and
ali the promising new ones, but failed to
find a better apple than the Jonathan,
1t possesses the good qualities of all
apples and the defects of none. The tree
is thrifty, healthy and hardy, notwith-
standing heat, cold and frost. with beau
tiful dark green leaves. bright pink
flowers, with an even distribution of
fruit buds producing bright red apples
securely fastened to the tree, more hand
some than oranges and more valuable
for eating or cooking. Every time 1 see
them l think if the people knew more of
its value it would become more plenti-
full. So few are yet raised and
these disposed of so quickly
and soon displaced by other
varieties we do not become familiar with
them. II we did the demand for them
would increase and on account of their
superior quality it would require large
quantity to satisfy US. When they be-
come more abundant we will know them
better, and approaching them will send
them to our friends and they to their
friends until Kansas Jonathan apples
will acquire world wide reputation.
If 1000 New England people will go
to Florida and spend millions in growing
oranges, which require constant fertili
cation and great risk Of cold weather
and having but limited market and
being but desert fruit, what can the peo-
pie of Kansas do with the king of fruits
and queen of apples, without the need of
fertilizers or risk of extremes of heat,
cold or frost, with the whole world for
market? A barrel of Jonathan apples
will not cost 81 laid down in Wichita
and another dollar to land it in Liver
pool, where it will bring note.
As long as Christmas and the holidays
last will there be demand for Jona-
than apples for eating and cooking.
The possibilities Of Kansas for apple
culture in general and Jonathan apples
in particular have never been wholly
considered. 1t would take a whole
county in orchards to supply the home
demand. Colorado, Arizona and Mexico
are close by, the east, north and south
are accessible and all are increasing in
population, and want apples.
By covering our state with orchards
it will so modify the climatic extremes
that new Eden will be ever present
with us, and the original Edenic apple
which caused our downfall will be re-
placed by beautiful, fine grained, rich,
crisp, spicy, delicious Jonathan. Go
where you will in the new or old world
and you cannot find a soil and climate
equal to ours to plant orchard in:
you can even plant here in
corn field and after realizing
several crops of corn find yourself in
possession of bearing orchard
from which the first crop will repay you
for all expenses to date, and after that
the crop of apples will pay the price of
the land every year.
Let US stop paving out our millions
for what Will grow on our own soil when
planted as easily as suntlowers, and fill
our barns, granaries. cellars and pockets
with plenty. Plant apple trees, plant
Jonothans, and plant millions of them.
The market will grow faster than your
trees.
have seen apples grown In every
state in the union, including the famous
apples of northern Michigan, the Ten
neSsee highlands and those from Wash
ington territory. The Kansas apples at
our county fair surpass ali in every par
ticular: in fact, beat the world. Right
here in Sedgwick county can be raised
the finest seeding apples known. Take
4 season like this when the tickle Bell
flower forgets 10 fall and the spicy
Early Joe increases Its aroma
and the coy Maiden Blush turns red in
the face and the delicious Snow loses its
freckles, and the Spitzenburgh and
white winter Pearmain their blemishes,
and with the rich Rambo all increase
their size and richness, Imparting TO the
seed its fullnesS and to the Seeding its
perfectness, and by superior cultivation
improve these superior qualities and pro-
duce another Jonathan in an earlier
variety and another in a later variety.
This grand achievement in pomology
can be accomplished here in Wichita.
If YOU would raise a living monument
TO Pomona go plant the seed OF your
favorite apple in your garden, and in
better soil and more congenial climate
you may grow better seeding apple
Let the State Horticultural society CHRIS
ten it and the nurseryman propagate it.
and If perfect preserve 1t for all time to
bless the state with its fragrance, shade
and fruit, and perchance be trans
planted to commemorate your good deed
10 the new paradise beyond for the full
enjoyment of the loved ones.
IL. L. BIpwELI..
The typical American poet liyes AZ
Guthrie, the only trouble is lie isn't recog-