The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1907-05-01
WHAT'S DOING.
Yakima Farmers Buying Automobiles
These Days.

try is pointed out by local men in
terested in the subject A North Da-
kota wheat farm If 100 acres, for
instance, will produce a net profit on
an average year of from 5000 to
$500. A fruit farm in the irrigated
districts of the Wenatchee, Yakima.
Frosser, Lewiston-Clarkston and 9TH
er typical northwestern fruit Sec
tions of the state will in good years
yield net profit to the owner OF
$4,000 to $3500-and that on five
acres. In unusual cases the profit
on fancy winter apples in some irri-
gated farms has been as high as
SIG to $4,000 for a single acre in =
single year
Washington is taking the lead OF
all the states in irrigation develop
ment, for the reason that the condi-
tons in its typical irrigated fruit
raising district are combination o.
soil and heat which causes it to pro-
duce fruit of bloom, perfection and
appearance that causes its winter ap-
pies, especially, to sell for three and
four times as much as the produc.
of Michiga of New York, or of the
Ozark.
The commission merchant of St
Paul, Chicago, New York and other
eastern cities last year were selling
the fanciest eastern apples for $50
to s2.25 per barrel. In the same
market at the same time Washing
ton apples were selling at $3.50 to
$500 per box.
These fancy apples in the irrigat-
ed districts along the Columbia, Yak
ina and Snake rivers find their best
markets in the great expensive no.
tells of London and New York. Com
monty fancy from the irrigated dis
trict of the state will sell in the Lon
don and New York fruit stands for
10c apiece.
There has never been a failure.
even in the most tender fruits, 10
the great irrigated fruit belts of the
state In fact. one of the difficulties
met with is that the trees often yield
too much fruit, necessitating consid-
cradle expense in thinning. OF
course. there are years when the
fruit is less plentiful. No matter
how scarce or how plentiful are the
eastern apples the Washington pro-
duct makes a market of its own, be-
ing in class by itself.
A man who makes study of the
subject OF horticulture says regard
ing the fruit raising possibilities OF
the state: 81 don't think such an
apricot can be raised anywhere as
| In the irrigated districts Of this state.
and the peaches are just as fine. A
peach tree two years old will bea-
so heavily that it will tear itself to
pieces unless the fruit is severely
thinned out. A peach orchard il
these districts brings almost an I'M
mediate profit. A baby peach twig
set out at one year old will two years
after be twelve feet high, with a
spread of foliage eight or ten feet
| across.
"The pear is also particularly sue
cessfu. The Bartlett does we'll, run
ming the apple a close race for profit
producing"
The advantages of the irrigated
districts consist in their natural COM
bination of soil and sun. to which
man must add the necessary water.
1t is the long days of hot sunshine.
in spring, summer and autumn which
gives the fruit the smoothness OF
texture and brilliance of coloring for
which ii is famed The soil is de-
composed basaltie ash. containing A
high percentage of iron. The sun
takes hold of this iron. draws it out
of the soil and puts it on the fruit.
giving it that blush so noticeable
in the Eastern Washington apple
This combination of soil. sun and
water brings the most wonderful re-
suits.
Irrigation means large profits from
small tracts; what follows is dense
settlement, with neighbors so close
that the country seems like one con-
tinuous village, with churches.
schools and electric roads, giving
practically all the social advantages
of the town.
The inhabitants of this section OF
the state are buying automobiles
these days