The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-03-23
Every Thing Indicates That
Fruit Will Be Abundant.
Promise of an Especially Large
Yield of Strawberries.
PEACHES, EXCEPTION.
All the Buds in This Locality
Are Killed.
Judge WellhOuse Talks of the
Prospects.

Without making allowances for pos
sible losses from early spring frosts 1t
is now predicted that Kansas viii have
a bin-bulsting apple crop and heavy
harvest Of most Of the other fruits ex-
cept peaches. The peach crop is already
failure REPORTS from various parts
of Kansas affirm that the two severely
cold spells Of the winter. one in Decem-
Der and one during the early part OF
February. killed the peach buds. This
is such a common occurrence in Kan
sas that it viii not cause great
amount Of comment. Kansas gets
about one peach crop in five seasons.
At the meeting of the State Horticul-
tural society in January. Major Frank
HolsinEer % St. Joe made the an
nouncement that the peach crop had
already been heavily damaged and pre-
dicted that it would be an almost total
failure. He had at that time obtained
reports from several parts Of Kansas
showing that the cold weather of the
early part of the winter had done its
Work IN Trostlng the peach buds in the
more exposed places. Later reports have
confirmed the result OF his investisa.
tons ana subsequent cold weather has
zone further damage. It is probable
that the peaches in protected orchards
VIII bear. but as comparatively few
trees have escaped the frost there Will
be but an insignificant quantity OF
homegrown peaches.
Fred Wellhouse. the apple king. saws that
there will be more than an average crop Of
/ applpes and also that the strawberry har-
vest Will be unprecedentedly large Straw
berries nave not been plentiful in Kansas
LOT several years. except in irrigated or
- ~, fial9 tenutu gardens Last year rev
them rested. They are in excellent condi-
tlon for the coming season and promise
heavy returns Kansas straw berries are
unexcelled for flavor and market purposes
generally and the prospects are that the
gardener with stra wberries will have a
crop that will make up a good part of
the failures he has experienced during the
last three or four years. Both raspberries
usual and favorable weather during the
coming months of spring and early sum
mer will make good crop of both.
As for apples, Judge WelIhouse. who is
the uncontested authority on the subject
SAYS that a crop is assured. Apple trees
nave stood the winter in good shape and
the acreage is somewhat increased over
last year. The season of 1902 was a good
one for apples and Judge Well house say VS.
discussing the outlook for fruits he said
Saturday
Prospects for apples are about as good
as nave ever seen them and ] think
Kansas VIII have an unusually large crop
this year Last seasons crop was better
than the average and the prospects at the
present time are better than they were a
year ago. l have had reports from all over
the state. and, with few exceptions. they
promise at least a good average harvest.
As far as can tell the peach crop viii be
nearly an entire failure. but the cold
weather that killed the peaches came prin-
ctpaly after Major HOlSinger had made
his prediction of a crop failure j have
heard from few localities where they say
they viii have peaches. but. in my opinion
this is going to be an eff year with them.
'Of Strawberries there will be an I'm
mense crop. Last year the vines rested
and grew and became strong. so that now
believe the harvest viii be abundant
Raspberries and blackberries are also in
very good condition for bearing and the
indications are for a good average crop
of both kinds Of small fruit 1 have not
paid much attention to cherries and really
don't know what the outlook is for them. 50