The Ellensburg dawn. [volume] (Ellensburg, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1909-09-23
THE LAND
OF PLENTY
HOME OF BIG RED APPLES
Rich in the Production of HAY,
Dairyins and stock-Raisins
Dawnins Era of Red Apple
Growins-General Prosperity

Kittitas county, Washington,
living on the eastern border of the
Cascade range and traversed by the
Northern Pacific railway has, in
mast wears, been the stockmen $
depot from where butchers stock
was distributed to the Puget Sound
and other coast markets. 1t has
long been famous for the quantity
and the high quality Of butter pro-
duced by we'll developed dairy
industry. Some years ago spring
was about a month later than us
ual and some of the dairymen were
caught short on feed That was a
lesson of blessing in disguise for
quite a number of star boarder
cows were detected and offered for
sale. The milk supplyers residing
adjacent to Tacoma and Seattle
markets bought large number as
they figured on milk only instead
Of butter fat. The price of hay
advanced to very profitable figure
and there remained so that many of
the farmers became hay raisers in
stead of dairymen. The success
Of Adam NJ. Stevens, a Kittitas
rancher, exemplifes the profit
making opportunities offered by
the dairy industry. In six years
and ten months MI. Stevens made
a net profit of more than $4,000
from a herd of thirteen to fifteen
A. J. c. G. Jersey cattle.
The Land of Plenty A fit
ting motto has been selected by
the people of this country which
forms part of the famous Yakima
river fruit belt of Washington, and
destined to become one of the
greatest winter apple producing
sections of the United States. I'm
til few years ago satisfied ranch
ers declined to cut up their big
holding into 5 and 10-acre tracts
suitable for the fruit grower, and
the result was that the orchard in
dustry was not developed to such
an extent as is the case in other
sections of the state. Ranchers
owned small orchards wherein they
grew fruit of the finest flavor and
color for their own uses without
even thinking of giving their trees
care and attention except to supply
moisture.
The day of commercial orchard
ing has arrived, however, and IN
the past three years large tracts
have been set to trees. About So
700 trees were planted in 1907;
10000 or more were set this year
u9OS), and, according to the fruit
Inspector and fruit-tree statesmen,
at least 100000 trees will be put
out next spring At the present
time more than 1000 acres in the
Kittitas valley are devoted to the
culture of the winter apple aud
other hardy fruits.
A combination of almost ideal
Climatic conditions, irrigation and
fertile soil explains the Kittitas APP
pie and pear. Winter apples
grown in this valley equal the
famous products of other parts OF
the state in size, symmetry and
coloring, and surpass fruit pro-
duced in other sections for keeling
Qualities and flavor. The Rome
Beauty, Northern Spy, Johnathan'
opltzenburg, Winesap and Yellow
Newton Pippin are some OF the
Choice winter varieties grown to
Perfection in the Kittitas valley.
The valley is particularly adapt
Cd to pear growing, particularly
near the mountain foothills where
the land is sub-irrigated. Winter
apples mature late, thus are in con-
dition for long keeping. There is