The ranch. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1902-1914, 1909-03-15

CuIeu, Dul SO1u6 ScCllOuS are
more subject to late frosts than others
nearby. The fact that very fine fruit
is raised in certain sections of Yak
ina County, Wenatchee Valley and
many other parts of Washington, Ore
gon and Idaho does not prove that all
so-called fruit lands in these favored
sections are equally good l make
the following quotation from the Yak
ina Republic of recent date as it
bears on this very matter:
"Lowlands Not Best for Fruit
Editor Republic Speaking as a
fruitgrower after several years of OBJ
servation, l think some one ought to
protest against the selling of low
lands as first class fruit land to mex
perienced buyers. Every fruitgrower
knows that there is one absolute es-
sential to profitable fruitgrowing, and
that is air drainage, which alone can
give assurance against late frost. Ele-
walton gives this, and occasionally it
is found elsewhere, but without it a
fruit crop is never certain. Many
acres in the Yakima and Columbia
Valleys are being set to fruit without
the slightest possibility of ever prov
ing remunerative. 1t is being sold as
first class fruit land by the real estate
men, who have had no experience in
fruitgrowing, and it is being bought
by men who do not know the cOndi-
tons of successful horticulture. 1t is
as certain as daylight that they are
going to be disappointed and their dis
appointment, TIE result of deception,
is going to hurt the reputation of this
region and retard it's development.
Possibly apples and pears can be sue
cessfully grown on low lands, but
peaches, apricots, grapes and cher
rieS cannot.
"The area of profitable peach cul-
ture in Eastern Washington is very
limited and it is confined mainly to
the higher levels, and always to such
localities as have air drainage. Every
experienced fruitgrower knows this,
and some have paid dearly for their
knowledge. 1t is plainly against pub
lie welfare to disregard such knowl-
edge, and some one ought to say so
loudly. l am quite willing to take the
responsibility of saying it. The in
terests of this region require a di-
versity of products, not over produc-
ton of one speciality, and nature has
made such diversity possible. The
Yakima and Columbia Valleys can be
not only the greatest fruitgrowing,
but the greatest dairy region in the
country, but the attempt to make it all
or mainly one thing is going to make
trouble, resulting in ruin to the men
who are setting trees in places where
fruit will not mature, and checking
the growth for a number of years of
every town in the region. The only
ones who can profit are the men who
are selling cheap land at a high price.
I am not saying this as prophet; the
fact is written large enough for every
one to read. H. M. BARTLETT"
This is a very timely warning. |
have no doubt but many persons en-
gagged in land booming are honestly
leading people astray in such matters.
The fact that some one makes sue
cess of raising peaches is taken as
conclusive evidence that peaches can
be raised anywhere within an area
of five or ten miles from this loca-
ton. But it is we'll known to us who
are in this business that quarter of
mile away peaches may be killed
more than half the years by frosts at
blooming time. l have given my own
experience in this matter and it need
not be repeated here. Mr.. Bartlett is
an Episcopal minister and has lived
many years in the Yakima Valley and
has had considerable experience in
fruitgrowing. He deserves the thanks
of all who love justice. No doubt but
there are men engaged in selling fruit
lands that know some of their stories
are not true, but this insignificant fact,