The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-10-08
Kaw Valley Crop Has Seldom
Been Better.
YIELD is ENORMOUS.
Farmers Have Harvested $50
Bushels Per Acre.
Commission Men Kept Busy in
Handling the Crop.


Within a few days the harvesting of
the Kaw valley potato crop of this state,
which has been in progress for some
weeks will have been COMPLETED Most
Of the growers along the Kansas river
have dug their tubers and for their
summers labor in planting, cultivaung
and digging. they have snug recon-
pense to put away in the bank. Usually
Il has been the rule that the potatoes
which have been taken from the ground
after the first of October were to be
used only for seed-that is, the quality
was not good enough to go on the mar
kets for table use. but this time the
season has been so favora bic in that it
is a little later than usual, and on the
other hand in the other great potato
growing sections of the middle west 1t
has been a little backward. that the
close of the inning which the Kaw val
ley tuber has been playing has been
somewhat heightened.
This year." said Frank Cone. of the
commission firm of Armstrong & Cope
of this city, to a reporter Monday, has
been an exceptional one for the produc-
ers in this valley. Not only the quality,
but the great yield as we'll have been
far better than during the average year
On some of the farms the yield has been
as high as $50 bushels an acre, although
of course that is extraordinary. But 1t
has been very high. and the price at
summer has been. I should say not far
from a quarter a bushel That brings
the income of such a field as that which
I have mentioned up to $50 an acre.
Mr. Cone would not venture a guess
as to the total product of the valley
although it is known that in the early
part of the season the railroads figured
on handling somewhere in the neighbour
hood of 3, 900 carloads. 1t is too early to
determine Just what would be the cor
rect figure but it is not believed that
that number is exaggerated. The fame
of the potatoes from this region is
known over the whole union.
They are shipped to the Chicago mar
kets From there they are distributed
all over the east. Then in the west and
south there are a great many ship
ments. This year IN particular they have
been sent to Oklahoma and Texas. They
have the lead of the northern and west
ern tubers in that the soil and season
are conducive to quick maturity, thus
rendering possible their placing on the
market before those from other potato
growing localities are ready to take out
of the ground.
Among all the growers in this valley,
which is practically limited by the cities
Of Topeka on the west and Argentine
on tie east there is an understanding
that only pure northern seed is to be
planted each year. This seed is of the
Early Ohio variety and comes from the
Red River of the North in Minnesota,
where the famous tubers of generous
size and of mealy flesh, are produced 1t
is not customary, according to commits
sion men, to plant the native-grown po-
tato for seed. What is known as the
seed class of Kaw valley potatoes-that
is, those taken out after October l. are
kept separate from those dug earlier,
and are sent to the south to be used as
seed there, the same as those OF the
north serve that purpose in the beau
tiful and fertile stretches thanking the
sluggish kaw. It is stated that the
north side Of the river leads in point of
acreage. although Just why this is SO
cannot be understood unless that there
is more valley land on that bank
In every market the potato grown in
the alluvial soil OF the Kaw has a stand
ing superior to most of those which are
put on sale in its season. 1t has a repu-
tation along with those of Colorado and
Minnesota, and only politely yields tic
those after its race has been run-wher
the supply ends. Late improved ma
chinery for planting, cultivating and
harvesting has made it possible for
producers to grow much greater acre
age than was possible a few years ago
Commission men also predict that
when the returns are in for the apple
yield this year, the crop viii go on rec
ord as a bumper. Both in quantity and
quality will the apples be above recent
seasons. 1t is out of the question to
make any venture, thus far regarding
the size of the yield. AS to the quality
Mr.. Cope again speaking said; The
apples of this season which are coming
IN are of the very best grade. They are
large, sound, of good flesh and free from
worms. Moreover, the conditions have
been such as to color them highly which
of course makes them all the more
salable. We have had lots of Ben Davis
In here that were as red as winesaps
The chances are that there is going tc
be export trade in apples from
America this year and particularly from
Kansas that scarcely ever has beer
paralleled- Kansas apples viii compare
favorably with those of any state II
the east there has been a good crop
but those from here will find a quick
sale in the markets anywhere, and
especially in the west and south We
never had so many Jonathans comins
in as have come this fall. 1t shows thai
the fruit-growers are planting more
Jonathan trees every year"
The Jonathan is an apple which while
classed as q winter variety, readily
yields itself in the early fall after the
Maidens Blush and other late summer
kinds have passed. 1t acts as a con
Meeting link for the lover of fruit, salts.
flying the mouth with its yellow, ricf
flesh, when the summer has gone and
the winter varieties have not full,
pleasure to the horticulturist to know
that the number of trees of the iona
than are increasing every season
Large additional forces of packer.
have been hired for service in all tn,
commission houses of Topeka handline
apples. and the picking season which
will likely close this month may nov
be regarded as in full swing.