The excursion party were favored with a most entertaining banquet at Leavenworth, offered by the Kansas Agricultural and Mechanical Association. At this banquet glorious specimens of Kansas apples were freely distributed over all the tables. In size, I know of nothing that would equal them in any fruit region I ever visited, while for beauty it would be impossible to find words fit for description. I cut them open, but eat only one piece, and laid the rest down, never to eat again - juioeless, dry and without flavor. I was more fortunate, however, in other specimens, but I could not help expressing the candid conviction that such large size had been obtained at the sacrifice of delicate quality. I also observed that some of the larger fruit, placed the day before on the chandelier for display, had thus early begun to rot, and, in some instances, one-fourth of the fruit had already spoiled. This augured badly for keeping qualities; still the varieties were early, not good keepers, and the room was quite warm, and heated with gas; so one must not judge a whole country from a single apple. The general character of the apples I saw and tasted, was fine in beauty of form and color, yet lacking in juice. The texture is mealy and dry.

I suppose I did not have a good opportunity to taste the best varieties, it being too early in the season. In the afternoon of the next day, we visited the grounds of several fruit-growers near the city, the principal one being that of Marcus J. Parrott. Here, upon high bluff land overlooking the city, and distant about two miles, Mr. Parrott has some specimen trees, which showed the capabilities of the soil and climate. Quite a large number of pear trees were bending down, very heavily laden, and in point of color, size and lusciousness, equal to the best we have ever witnessed; at the side of the peach orchard is a small vineyard, mostly of Concord grapes. One vine was noticeable for its breadth and prolificness. It was only four years of age from planting, yet its arms extended about forty feet, bearing the incredible number of 400 bunches. Many of the bunches were completely spoiled in consequence of the cracking of the berries; and indeed this is quite a common fault throughout the entire vineyard, more or less berries on, every vine being thus spoiled.

We attribute the cracking of the skin to too rapid growth; the vines grow exuberantly, and seem impatient of restraint.

In another part of the farm is quite an orchard of apples ; these had been cultivated in clover, and apparently did not suffer from the grass occupying the same ground. The trees were young, and seemed to be but four to five years of age, yet were full of fruit of most beautiful color, and superior size. Kansas has certainly not been over-estimated in the value of her soil or climate for fruit.

At Dr. Stayman's the novelty was witnessed of an orchard never pruned, and always grown in grots. We must admit its success here, for the trees were overloaded with fruit, and the ground beneath was perfectly covered with fallen or decaying apples. The branches of the trees ran in every possible direction, wherever nature directed them in negligent confusion, yet such a sight of fruit is rarely witnessed by any orchardist in the country.

In other small farms and gardens near the city, we saw strawberry beds, grape vines and pear trees, all in good, thrifty condition. Considerable attention has been paid to small fruit, and it has proved quite a profitable occupation, growers realizing fifteen to twenty cents per quart, and the produce 4,000 to 6,000 quarts per acre. Pear trees grown in grass or out of grass are alike healthy and productive.

I saw few evidences of blight, and, to the credit of my friend Meehan, I must admit that every orchard or group of fruit trees grown West on the " grass system" as far as I saw them, were admirably successful. I should disagree with him as to the application of this method in any portion of the East, but in the West, on the rich prairie soils, I find it is a useful specific, and is attended with very few inconveniences or injuries.

Kansas is very well situated for the cultivation of fruit. Most of the soil is of a limestone character, and in such countries fruit trees are always successful, often pre-eminently so, for the color of the skins, and the size and perfection of form, are unmistakable evidences. But it is able also to command good markets. Hitherto Denver has been supplied entirely from California, at extravagant prices, but Kansas, now close at hand, is able to come in and offer its choicest fruit at one-half the price, and still be considered very remunerative, while Kansas City, Lawrence and Leavenworth, and other local markets will take all the fruit raised at remunerative rates.