The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1908-10-28

will bring in q lot Of new land. water
for which is expected to be ready in
1910. This will water a territory to
the northwest of North Yakima. and
all the land is said to be very pro-
ductive when water is supplied.
Another project is what is known
as the Sunnyside project, being con-
structed by the government. This
Will really water the Yakima valley
below the city of North Yakima, aid
include what is known as the Zillah
district, Sunnyside district, Mabton
district, Prosser district, etc. In con-
structing this great irrigation system
the United States government takes
over a number of existing bitches,
and by storage reservoirs in the
mountains increases the quantity Of
water available. Lands which have
been watered will have better water
rights, therefore, and thousands Of
acres of new land will be brought
under the ditch.
All down the Yakima river are
splendid fruit districts. The Parker
Bottoms is a famous section, and
around Zillah are some of the best
known orchards in the state We
stopped off at Toppenish and visited
the ranch of F. Walden, horticultural
editor of The Ranch, at Seattle. Mr.
Walden was one of the pioneer fruit
growers of the Zillah district, ard
has been very successful. He has
retired from active mana cement OF
the ranch. his two sons now looking
after the work. However, the elder
Walden comes out during the sum-
mer months and helps to look after
the crop.
When his first orchard was planted
Mr.. Walden included many varieties
of apples, and his work of tejtfng
these varieties has been very helpful
to those who have planted orch ards
since then. Most Of these varieties
have been Improbable. but It has
been OF great help to the growers to
know what varieties not to plant. Mr..
Walden now thinks the old Winesap
is about the best variety to grow in
his district. Stayman Winesap does
we'll here, as In other parts Of the
state; quality is fine. and trees much
better than old Winesap-but the
apple is not SO highly colored. and
Continued from Page 81
Mr.. Walden says buyers discriminate
against it. Last season, for instance.
Stayman Winesap apples not we'll
colored sold at lower prices than the
old Winesap, Notwithstanding the
better quality. 1t should be said,
however. that the old Winesap, as
grown here, is a much larger apple
tudh Iulo soAiSty 90 6Ao"A 80 sAS
eastern states, but is not nearly so
large as Stayman.
Mr.. Walden was in the midst OF his
liberia peach crop, and was shipping
fruit of very fine quality. Every
peach is wrapped in paper and laid
carefully in rows in boxes; when the
box is full the number of peaches
contained is marked at the end on
the box. The size of the fruit can
be appreciated when 1t is stated that
twenty-pound boxes often contained
only 80 peaches: perhaps the average
was from so to 60 peaches to the
box.
Price was about 40c per box, I. o. B..
cars at Toppenish. Some OF the
growers complained that this was too
low, but admitted that they could sell
$500 10 5000 worth of fruit per acre.
The fruit sold in 1907, however. at
from soc to 90 cents per box. and
these high prices spoiled the growers.
so that 40 cents a box looked entirely
too low.