The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1905-08-10
APPLES IN THE
PAJARO VALLEY
NEWTOWNS TAKE THE LEAD
Excellent Article on Fruit Industry
there by c. II. Rodgers, Who Wis.,
tied Here last Summer.

The apple industry in the Pajaro
valley, Calf, is described as follows
by President G. II. Rodgers of the Ap-
pie Growers association, in a recent
issue of the California Cultivator:
The valley was discovered in Octo-
ber, 1863 by the POrtola expedition,
which, under instructions from King
of Spain, had been sent north by land
from San Diego in search Of Monterey
Bay. After the long, tiresome march
over desert an parched soil, so pleas
ing was the contrast between the
scene spread before the little company
of explorers on first viewing the valley
compared with that region which they
had recently traversed, the scribe of
the expedition in his records gives eX-
preston to his admiration in these
words: "a meadow beautiful to be-
hold, because of the great variety of
trees and plants" The locality re-
ceved its name on that occasion. Pa
iaro means "bird" in the Spanish
language and the name was certainly
appropriately applied, for in no other
locality could be found the great nun
ber aud variety of birds.
The valley extends east and west
and opens out upon Mo terey bay
midway between the cities of Santa
Cruz and Mo terey. 1t is surrounded
on the north and east by the Santa
Cruz mountains, which divide it from
the famous Santa Clara valley and on
the south low range Of hills divides
it from the extensive Salinas valley
in Monterey county.
Though limited in area, being only
ten miles long by about four wide, its
favorable combination climate and
soil made it speci lily fitted for the
production of the greatest variety Of
crops.
With an average rainfall of over 20
inches an exceptionally fertile soil
extending to the water table, which
latter varies from eight to 20 feet from
the surface, mild winter temperature
and SUNNI rs cooled and moistened
through ocean influences, where else
from an agricultural standpoint, can
moro ideal spot be for ndY
While the apple crop is first in inn
pnTtBnce, th list of products covers
the widest range, including all the
deuiduous tree fruits--the apricot,
cherry, prune, plum, peach and pear,
oil varieties of berries, all the cereals,
hay, potatoes, sugar beets, beans,
corn, alfalfa, hops, squashes, melons,
garden truck" nuts, dairy and
poultry products, the latter particu-
larly, are assuming important proper
tions. Then, too, the hooks in the
| bordering mountains make very
credible showing in grapes, lemons
and oranges.
Irrigation is not necessary except
| for berries.
The revenue realized from these in
dustries has caused this community
to become one of the most prosperous.
1t is busysplace, with employment
for all its inhabitants and all who
will, even the most humble, may have
hank account.
Individual holdings are small, va
rying generally from ten to 75 acres.
SO well contented are land owners
with their profits that it Is seldom
change of ownership occurs in best
lands and when transfers are made,
the price per acre reaches into the
hundreds. Though as stated the best
lands are difficult to obtain even at
hi. h prices, yet very good lands may
| be bought in the foothills at $50 and
upwards, per acre.
Watsonville, the only town, Ia cen
| trally located. Its population Is up
wards of 1000. Here is the concen-
trating point for the products of the
surrounding region and also the dis
tributing center of the valley and ter
ritory adjacent thereto.
Shipping facilities are good, there
being three lines competing for the
traffic. There are the s. p. Coast
Line, which passes through the val
ley, the Paiaro Valley railroad, and
the Watsonville transportation Co.,
an electric and steamship line owned
by the citizens.
In almost every new settlement
since the founding Of our country,
the planting of the family orchard fol
lowed close after the building of the
home. Pajaro was no exception to
the rule, as we find that an orchard
was planted as early as 1853, shortly
after the first American settler locat
ed here. In those early paintings, the
apple generally had first place. This
proved the case here, also, and the
early settler in selecting his trees for
the family orchard aimed generally to
secure a great variety OF apples This
was wise procedure, as there was no
other means of determining what va
rieties we're best adapted to the local
ity and the results of the tests proved
of value in planting later years.
Though all the known varieties can
be produced in the Pajaro district,
all do not attain high standard Of
excellence, and some prove dissap-
pointment. Summer apples, though
the product is of excellent quality are
not raised to any extent because they
ripen when the markets are gutted
with over summer fruits, and cOnse-
uuenty prices are not remunerative.
Red varieties are not plante extern
sively, AZ the demand on this coast Is
limited and exorbitant freight rates
preclude the shipment of these to
eastern and European markets in COM
petition with the eastern grown red
app'e.
; The two varieties which attain the
! highest perfection, are most sought
after and command the highest prices,
r are the Newtown Pippin and the Bell
/ flower. During the last ten yeart
/ these two have been planted almost
exclusively.
These two varieties are quite exact
g ing in their requirements, so mucl
% that the known area in which the!
d? can be proftably produced is limiteC
It to a vrey few localities on the globe
This fact, together with their popular
q ity among consumers, will always in
i sure for them place among the fore
!. most in list prices in any market.
A. During the first 25 years after tn
N settlement of Pajaro by the Amer