The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-07-31
The Largest Cherry Orchard in
Kansas at Wichita.
Thirty-One Acres Nearly All
Planted Out.
TREES QUICK TO BEAR.
lave Fair Amount of Fruit
After Second Year.
Not Damaged So Easily by Early
FrOstS.

Wichita, July S1.-This city can boast
of having the largest cherry orchard, or
the largest orchard containing any kind
of fruit in the state and so far as is now
known in the west.
c. X. and John Daugherty are the
owners and the orchard comprises 81
acres of ground situated on the West
side. two miles from the main part of
the city. The ground adjoins that oc-
cupied by the Mt. Carmel academy and
was purchased by the Messrs. Daugh-
erty at cost OF $50 an acre.
Work on the orchard was commenced
last fall at which time c. X Daugh.
erty completed the purchase of several
acres of ground to make out the 81
acres desired. At that time 900 small
cherry trees and $50 peach trees were
set out. This spring some 200 more
cherry trees were planted making a to-
tai of about 1900 trees that have al
ready been set out. In the spring Mr.
Daugherty Will plant about 1000 more
cherry trees, making an orchard of $500
trees. so far as is known the largest of
tts kind outside of California.
When asked why he had decided on
planting so many cherry trees. c. X.
Daugherty said:
In the first place there is a greater
demand for that kind of fruit than any
other. There has always been a greater
demand for cherries locally alone than
could be supplied. Besides, there has
never been a year that there were any
cherries shipped from this part of the
country to other cities. The demand
from Wichita alone has always been
sufficient to consume the offerings Of
cherries where many more could readily
be disposed of ii offered. Another rea-
son is that cherry trees are easily cared
for in this climate and do not become
damaged so readily by early or late
frosts as most other fruit trees. In two
years after first planted, a cherry tree
will yield fruit in large quantities, where
If a peach tree is planted it takes all
the way from three to five years before
profitable crop is yielded Apple trees
require at least five years for maturing
and both varieties of fruit are apt to
become damaged almost any year by
unfavorable weather conditions
Mr.. Daugherty figures that with great
care each of his trees will yield yearly
all the way from one to three bushels
of cherries.
As one bushel will make two ordinary
crates of the fruit. it can readily be
seen what a large amount of fruit the
$500 trees will yield every year.
Mr.. Daugherty has studied up on the
proposition OF fruit raising in the Ar
kansas valley and after investigating
the question thoroughly makes some re-
markable statements. He says:
peleNe tndt INSIDE or ten years the
Arkansas river valley will be the great
est fruit raising section of the country
People who have heretofore been plant
ing fruit and grain on these lands are
just commencing to awake to the fact
that fruit could be raised at a profit ten
times at least, greater than grain. The
ground is simply perfect for fruit rails
ing. on my place west of the city water
can be struck at a distance of four and
one-half feet below the surface on any
part. The soil is of a sandy mixture
particularly adapted to the raising of all
kinds of fruit"
Mr.. Daugherty's land is one and one
half miles from the river, but at no
time since he has owned it has it been
impossible to find moisture at the depth
mentioned. He AYERS that as fruit trees
always grow roots which extend in the
ground to a distance of four or five feet
sufficient moisture is always at hand to
supply the necessary amount of nour-
ishment to the growing trees. 1t is not
necessary a any time Mr.. Daugherty
saws to water the trees