The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1898-02-17


great plateau, with an altitude of about
one thousand feet above the river. 1t is
also fine grazing ground for stock. AZ
the uncultivsted portions are covered
with heavy "bunch grass"
Other valleys and TOW ms. Mckee, Nat
chez, Parker, Wenss, Cowychee, Tampi.
CT, Kions and Kennewick have reported
through their special correspondents on
another page.
1t is simply impossible to do justice to
the fruits raised in Yakima County.
Peaches and apricots have the size and
color of those raised in California. with
more delicious flavor.
The earliest peaches ripen early IN
July, and we have continuous season
until the middle or last of October. The
trees commence bearing when they are
three or four years old. One of our
largest fruit growers shipped three thou
sand boxes of peaches from six acres of
three year old trees Another fruit grow
or shipped from four acres of four year
old trees, enough to clear him two hun
bred dollars an acre. These cases are
not exceptions.
No fruit in this climate is harder, or
more easily produced than the pear, of
which the l'artlett is king. Yakima
pears can be put on the market of New
York or Boston in perfect condition.
Prunes Begin bearing the fourth year
after planting. Mr.. Wilcox, of our city,
produced from two hundred four-year
old trees. 1873 pounds of fruit. and is now
constructing on his farm dryer to pre-
pare for market his annually increasing
crop.
The yield of apples here is very large.
and no country can excel us in the keep
ing qualities of our late varieties. At
the Worlds FAIR, Yakima apples were
exhibited in perfect condition up to July,
without the aid of cold storage.
In the spring of 1897, Mr.. A. b. Ross,
formerly of Nor h Yakima, but now in
China, received box of apples shipped
from this city. The varieties were the
Ben Davis, Winesap. White White
Pearmain and Baldwin. When they
reached him, all were in perfect order
but six of the Baldwins. In speak ng of
them, Mr. Ross says: They were rev.
alton to the people of Shanghai. | was
offered twenty five cents apiece for them,
but was too hungry for good apple to
care to sell them at that price. With
care in packing and in the selection of
the varieties to he shipped, there would
be no trouble in landing tn goods in
good condition, and no difficulty in SELL
ing large quantity. With a steadily
growing market in these countries for
Washington fruits, a growing demand
for -four, and a rising market for Ameri-
eau butter and cheese, the possibilities
of trade with China and Japan are al
most boundIess."
Potatoes yield prodigiously, and are of
the choicest quality. The egg plant and
cartaloupe also have an enormous yield.
We know of one man, living near town,
who made a specially of the two last
products and cleared nine hundred dol
lars off the three acres of ground in one
summer. All other vegetables grow
equally well, and find a ready market.
For several years sorghum has been
grown in a small way, but for two years
past. several persons have taken hold of
this crop in earnest, and make first
class syrup.
Broom corn grows easily and requires
little attention. The seed is good for
hens, horses and other stock, and pays
for threshing.
Hops can be grown successfully in
any part of this valley on irrigated land.
The average yield is 1900 to 1000 pounds
per acre. 1t is acknowledged by hop
mon from different parts of the United
States and from England, that the Yaki-
ma country is the finest hop district in
the world.
Nothing so clearly marks the contrast
between our lands in their natural state
and in state of cultivation, as the rich,
beautiful green of the alfalfa fields with
which the valleys of our county are dot
ted. Alfalfa is the king of forage plants,
and has made of the Yakima valley q
vast feeding ground for stock. The cost
of production is nominal, it requires but
one seeding, and the yield is prolific.
1t is cut three and four times during the
season, Welding from one and one hall
to two tons per acre per cutting, and pro-
vides excellent pasturage for several
months after the last crop has been cut.
/ 1t is generally sold in the stack to stock