The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1901-09-05
THE YAKIMA HERALD.
THURSDAY. SEPT. ), 1901.
AN UNPRECEDENTED HARVEST.
Farmers Are Prosrerine as a Result Of Big
Crops Some Figures.

That Yakima county farmers are reap
ing an unprecedented harvest this year
and receiving for their products largely
increased prices over those obtained in
previous years there is no gansaving.
Reports from all parts Of the valley are
to the effect that everybody who tills n
piece oil land or raises stock is receiving
big returns for his labor, and all indica-
tons point to the most successful year
in the history Of the valley.
1t is gratifying to note that in nearly
every instance the new corners are salts
| fled with the result Of their efforts this
year to plant home in Central Wash
ington and are receiving we'll earned re-
wards of industry. These people have
come at a time when the markets We're
never better and when conditions are
such that new markets have been estab-
lished that will not be wrested from the
Yakima producer once it is known to
the world that the best OF fruit and grain
and stock is raised here. The
season has been most propitious for all
kinds Of crops, though failure is an UNI
heard Of thing III an irrigated country
like this; prices have remained high on
account of the big demand for produce
on the coast and as far east even as st.
Paul and Chicago, and above all, those
engaged in farming this year have taken
special pains to cultivate their land SO
as to produce the best quality and great
est quantity OF everything.
The valley is especially favored in
many ways. Nowhere are such large
crops Of fruit and hay and grain raised.
The average per acre in all lines Of pro-
duce is much greater than in any part Of
plums and many other kinds Of fruit
yield so extensively that the results are
startling to the average person who was
| brought up in the east where land pro-
duces not one-third as much and then
| the prices obtained for these fruits are
much greater than is received in any
other part OF the country. Potatoes
yield enormously, rs high as 500 bushels
to the acre, and the price received for
them is usually high. Last year the av-
erage price per ton was about $l2, but If
conditions do not change, as indicated
so far this year, the average price real
lied will range along at about $l5 An
acre Of land in this valley averages 10
tons, which, at $15 per ton, will net the
farmer $50 per acre. These returns, it
will readily be seen are much greater
than the most sanguine would care to
believe, but they are true nevertheless.
Then in the growing of alfalfa, where
the labor required is not SO great, an av-
erage OF seven tons per acre is harvested
This brings IS per ton or $35 per acre.
In many instances the yield amounts to
$50 per acre. In fruits the profits per
acre will net from 800 to 5000, depend
ing on the season and kind OF fruit
raised. In other lines the returns run
about the same. Big yields, good prices
and ready market are the three things
that favor the farmer this year. The
same things have favored him in the
past and there is no doubt that the fu-
ture will be just as good.
Yakima county has approximately
1000 acres devoted to fruit culture. An
acre Of fruit will produce 10 tons, thus
giving 10000 tons OF the green product
| -, la e
land is devoted to apple raising, which
will produce 1000 tons, or nearly twice
that OF 1900. Prunes take up about
900 acres and it is expected that some-
thing like 20 carloads will be picked this
: year. The acreage in peaches is about
700, thus giving 900 tons Of green fruit.
There will be at least 900 tons OF pears
this year, or double the amount pro-
duced last year, and is the best ever
known in the valley. The small orch
ards and areas devoted to the cherry,
plum, grape, small fruits, etc, make up
the balance Of the 5000 acres. 1t is es-
timated that at least 300 cars ii fruit will
be shipped from the valley this year. AT
the present rate Of shipment it would
seem that the number Of cars sent out
during the season would run up to dou-
bic the figures above given. A summary
Of the fruit production OF the VALLEY
would be about as follows.
Acres in fruit. ...t.,...s 6,0o(
: Pounds produced l2o.ooo,oot
/ Apples, pounds. ......... 4o,ooo,0Ot
Prunes, Y . 10000, oo(
~ ), - 600 N.