The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1898-02-17
Our County and Its Resources
EDITED BY MRS. A. v. GOODWIN.


This county comprises that part of the
state lying between the Cascade range
and the Columbia river, and Is drained
by the Yakima river and its tributaries.
Spurs of the Cascade mountains cross the
valley at irregular intervals, dividing 1t
into several small valleys, most Of them
watered by fine streams. The fall of
these streams Is so rapid, that ii is easy
10 lead the water from them, by means of
canals, making it possible to irrigate
large tracts of land.
The water for irrigation may be OBJ
tanned so easily, and kept under such
complete control, that it is much better
than the natural rainfall of other regions.
The farmer and fruit grower can be per-
fectly independents: can pillow, plant and
cultivate, without fear of damage to his
crop by drought or too heavy rainfall.
The climate of Yakima is peculiar; at in
tervals during the spring there are gentle
showers, accompanied by electrical dis
turbances.
These showers, however, are not nee
essary for plant growth, as the melted
snow retained in the porous, sandy soil,
constitutes an ample source of urish-
ment for luxuraint growth of grass and
other plants indigenous to the country.
Here the grass does not brown in the
fall and winter, and melting SHOWS OF
spring disclose a carpet as green as is
generally found in May.
BY the first of March, the air is redo.
lent with the perfume of viclets; and by
early summer the uncultivated portions
of the country are literally covered with
wild flowers. In winter the snow fire.
uuently falls TO n depth of the three or
four inches. The mercury seldom goes
below zero and the dryness of the at
mosphere makes zero weather seem
hardly more severe than barely freezing
temperature in damp atmosphere. The
immense forests and lingering SHOWS of
the mountains, supply us with refresh
ing breezes, so that in the summer the
heat is not oppressive.
With sunshine four ii this of the yenr,
the warm current of air from the ocean
in winter, and the cool breeze from the
mountain in summer, we have climate
at al. III times delightful; while the altitude
and the dryness of the atmosphere,
makes the valley unusually healthful.
The Yakima country is capable of
growing all kinds of vegetables and mel
ons to perfection. The small grains
wheat oats, barley, rye and buckwheat
yield abundantIy. Nearly all kinds OF
fruits flourish. peaches, spricots, pears,
cherries, grapes, plums, prunes and
apples. The yield is so great, it is neces-
sary to thin the fruit in order to give
the trees fair chance.
Many of the Oldest hop yards and or
chards are in the Ahtanum Valley, which
is the oldest settled portion of Yakima
county. The soil of this valley is rich.
and free from gravel; and it is one of the
most beautiful farming districts of the
state.
The Selah Valley being high land. and
sheltered by ranges of hills, is peculiarly
adapted to the raising of fruit. The av-
erage farm is twenty acres, but many
are doing well on ten acres.
The Sunnyside district comprises
about $1,000 acres of fertile land and has
one of the largest irrigating canals in the
world. One of the most profitable fruits
grown is the prune, to which the soil
seems especially adapted. The best va
rieties are the French, Italian, Silver and
Hungarian. The small fruits grown
there, such as straw berries. black berries,
raspberries, dewberries. gooseberries
and currants, cannot be excelled any
where for size and flavor. The straw
berry season comes two or three weeks
earlier than in the upper part OF the
county.
Prosser Falls is growing town and
an important market for the large farm
ing district which surrounds it. In the
extreme southeastern part of the county,
the soil is sandy. and of great fertility,
1t is only $50 feet above ea-level. The
winter is mild, and the spring very
early, making it possible to produce
most Of the tenderer varieties of fruit,
especially grapes
We must not omit to speak of the great
wheat-growing portion of our county
the so-called Horse Heaven distric}, q