The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-03-16
BIG APPLE CROP
Ike DEAN Says Prospects
Point That Way.
OTHER FRUITS A FAILURE
Country Safe With Apples,
Wheat and Sweet Potatoes.

Notwithstanding the great damage done
to most ali other kinds of fruit. prospects
of a large apple crop have not been affect
ed by the severe weather of the past win
ter This important information was
vouchsafed by Mr.. Ike DEAN in the office
of the sheriff yesterday. Mr.. DEAN says
he has made careful and thorough exam
nation of his orchard. He is considered
one of the leading orchardists IN Kansas,
and his investigation along this line is
worth something. Mr.. DEAN says the fruit
crop. with the exception OF apples Is al
most an entire failure, and especially can
this be said of peaches. However, with
good apple crop a great source OF prosper
ity to the Kansas farmer may be relied
upon. Mr. Dean has one Of the largest
orchards in the west, consisting mostly
of apples He has been careful TO Keep
il in perfect order and the trees receive
the best of care whether they bear profta-
bly, or not one good crop out or nve'
it is asid, will pay for the care OF an or
chard, and pay good interest on the invest
ment besides.
Mr.. Dean has recently returned from
trip through Sedgwick, kingman, Barber
and Harper counties, and after thorough
examination of the wheat condition he
saws that the condition OF wheat Is at
least 30 per cent better than the farmers
had dreamed of until a few days ago, when
II began to show up so favorably- Win
the exception of a few places where the
wind has b,own the wheat out of the
ground during the extreme dry weather.
the fields present an exceptionally healthy
appearance and Mr.. DEAN thinks that each
of the southern Kansas counties will have
a splendid yield of wheat. With an abun-
dant wheat and apple crop and brilliant
, outlook for all kinds of stock, surely the
Kansas farmer will be riding on high
waves of prosperity during the coming
years.
Mr.. DEAN is also a great believer IN
the sweet potato as hardy source OF rev.
enue to the farmer. He has been in the
habit of planting from 40 TO 50 acres every
year and shipping them direct to the mar
kets. This year he says he will plant
! about 20 acres. In his shipping he has also
bought his neighbors surplus and shipped
( them. with his own. thereby securing the
/ best price possible for the products of the
! farms in his section, and it is said by
! those who know of his energy and success
/ along this line that Ike DEAN has done a
/ great deal for the farmers by trying to
! secure better prices and encouraging them
! to devote their time to paying crops. A
/ few years ago most other farmers in his
/ neighborhood would not raise sweet pota-
/ toes, and hardly ever would they plant
more than an acre. This season. 1t is
! said, several farmers will plant the sweet
! potato extensively and do their own ship
/ ping when the time comes 10 market them.
/ 1t is their intention. also, to get in on the
markets as early as possible. so as to get
! the best price of the season.
! Last year Mr.. Dean, besides tending his
I farm. raised. bought and shipped about
/ thirty cars of farm products from this sec
/ ton Sometimes. It is said. these large
shipments have not resulted in any profit
to him. but it has enabled the farmers
around him TO get good prices for Their
stuff, and this fact seems to have satisfied
/ Mr.. DEAN for the extra hard work and
risks incidental 10 such business.