The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1900-08-07
SOME APPLE GROWING IN KANSAS.

AAO oUO4I VI 0NNOOONS 'NtLS {
pleasing one instilling hope in the
breast of the listener and Stimulating
him to greater endeavCr. The mar
who scores a success IN his particu.
lar line of Legitimate undertaking
contributes materially to the general
prosperity of mis- community and is
a working element in the welfare OF
the world
The development of that section OF
the limited States so indefinitely
characterized as 1.-the West has fur
nished many worthy examples of
surmounting great obstacles, over
coming discouragements, and Of the
final triumph of the sturdy, perse-
vering pioneer. Many are the eXpe-
riences related, showing the marvel
Gus possibilities of the country when
backed by level Judgment and will
ing muscle.
One mans requirements often hap
PLY combining with another's ability
work great advantage to both. Such
a CIRCUMSTANCE effected the begin
ming of the success of Fred Well
house, of Kansas, the most extensive
commercial orchardist in the United
States. He is widely known as the
''apple king of Kansas, and the
story of his eminently successful
career in orcharding should be an in
SEPARATION to all who read it. Some
thing of it is related here by Mr.. F.
D. Coburn, Secretary of the Kansas
Board of Agriculture:
The year 1875 found Mr.. Wellhouse
without money, but with a definite
knowledge of tree growing and
orcharding in Kansas acquired by
years of close observation combined
with practical experience, and full
of faith in the possibilities of the
State for fruit growing. l.. B. Wheat,
a lawyer, of L~eavenworth, owned
three tracts of 437 acres of land
which was not profitable. Mr.. Well
house closed a contract with Wheat
to plant this, $50 acres lei Fair
mount and III acres near GlenwOOd,
in Leavenworth county, and 100
acres in Miami county, near Gardner,
with apple trees. These lands had
cost Mr.. Wheat, with improvements,
about SO, 900 and could be rented for
perhaps 81 per acre. He furnished
the land, fenced it, (breaking that
part of it not previously in cultiva-
tion), erected buildings for tenants,
dug wells, etc. Wellhouse & Son
Cthe firm name) furnished the trees,
planted, cultivated and took care of
them until they came into bearing,
getting all grain grown on unOccu-
pied land between the trees, and paid
taxes for the first five years. After
That Mr.. Wheat paid taxes and each
party was to bear one half of the ex-
penses and each receive One-half of
the income until WeIlhouse & Son
should receive Is bushels per tree, or
so long as the trees might bear. The
Glenwood orchard was planted in the
spring Of 1875; the Miami county
tract in 1878, and the Paramount
orchard in 1879, with varieties as
follows:
GlenwoOd tract, (117 acres): Ben
Davis, so acres; Winesap, 16 acres ;
Missouri Pippin, Al acres
Miami county tract, Q6O acres) {:
Ben Davis, 80 acres; Missouri Pip
pin, AZ acres; Maiden's Blush, s
acres Cooper's Early, 8 acres Wine
sap, % acres.
Paramount tract, Q6O acres): Ben
Davis, so acres; Jonathan, 40 acres ;
Cooper's Early, s acres; Maiden's
Blush, 8 acres Winesap, "a acres.
The years of usefulness of these
orchards were from 1880 to 1895 dur
ing which time they produced a total
of 41O,41 bushels, giving a net in
come of $1O4, 600 or $50, 900 as a re-
suit of the venture to each party,
during the fifteen years active life
of the orchards. The account prac-
tically closed with the year 1895.
Wellhouse & Son now own 1920
acres of younger orchards, located in
Leavenworth and Usage counties.
About one-third of these are now
laden with'fruit and the product of
this seasOn is estimated at 10000