The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-12-27
WHERE APPLE IS KING.
Southern Illinois Leads in This
Toothsome Production.

IOOt1SOm6 RrOQucC1Ous
There is to be a repetition this year of
the story of the going down into Egypt"
but instead OF going for corn, as Joseph's
brethren did of old, the people of north
ern Illinois will buy apples of their south
ern neighbors.
Egypt is the name given to the ex-
IRENE southern portion of the state by
the more fortunate people of the north,
and for years the thrifty people of the
corn belt have been poking fun at the
Egyptians but apparently that day is
over for with one county 1,000,o00 barrels
OF apples and the corn crop almost equal
70 the central section, a new era has ap-
parently dawned for southern Illinois.
One million barrels of applesl Large, red
apples whose qualities in the market
make them the peer of any fruit in the
world. This is the crop of Clay county
Tor 1900.
With an area exceeding 10000 acres set
20 a total exceeding 2.0oo,9ue trees, one
half of which are bearing this year. this
locality resembles one large apple orchard
and one could imagine himself in the
Garden of Eden with apples enough for
Adam and his pOsterity for all time. This
immense acreage is centered about the
little city Of Flora, the metropolis of the
county.
Possibly a radius of fifteen miles will
include the greater portion of the orchard
claims 5000 acres, scattered over ten
counties, and the one county of Clay has
more than one-half this total acreage.
The average age of the apple tree is
possibly twelve years. and the present
year IS the first general crop since the
trees became of a. bearing age The cOun-
try seems peculiarly adapted to the grow
ing of an ideal apple tree and the prOduc-
ton Of a perfect apple. According to the
best authorities some OF the finest or
chards in the United States are located
on the outskirts of the Orchard city,
as Floragis eomrnonlyg known.
From an eninence just north of town
may be seen 1000 acres of apple trees.
The varieties grown in this section are
those well known in the markets as
standard fruit. Color, flavor and keeping
qualities are the requisites which are
needed TO give an apple favor in the eyes
of the buyer and later please the appetite
OF q critical people. The Ben Davis pre-
dominates as to the other varieties in a
proportion of three to one. The Jonathan
with its sleek, glossy coat of deep red, is
the prime favorite. These apples bring
fancy prices, and there is an unlimited
demand for this splendid variety.
The harvesting of this enormous crop is
q problem which the growers have yet tC
solve. This is the first general crop since
the trees have reached the age of ma
turing, and the handling of such a vast
amount Of fruit within a comparatively
short time is likely to tax the abilities OF
der way, and every one is hustling il
order to meet the rush which IS now al
hand
One OF the representatives of a large
commission firm said the other day that
he had purchased 5000 barrels This
means $50 carloads, or fully ten trains oil
apples. The magnitude of the industry
IS not apparent until the figures are con
sidered.
In order to care for the grades of fruit
other than first class. nine large evapora-
tors have been built in this locality The
plants when running at full capacity vii
use 1900 bushels daily. They are
marvel within themselves. Not only dc
they dry the body OF the apple but tbs
cores and peeling are also evaporated
and they find a ready market.
These Institutions turn out carloads Of
good. clean stock and the quality is at
tested by the prices the product brings il
the market. The apple-growing industry
IS as yes in its infancy. and horticultur
lists Of an optimistic turn of mind see grea-
possibilities in store for this immediat,
locality when later years test the per
manency of the business. Tt has Opened
M new industries and quickened the pulls,
of a section where the wheels of progress.
had not turned for two decades An in
stance IS shown by the location of
Ss9.uc0 cold storage plant in this city, ans
stu another where one of the evaporation
when the apple season was over, use,
pumpkins and found a ready market foi
this fruit.-Chicago Chronicle