The Twin Falls times. [volume] (Twin Falls, Idaho) 1905-1916, 1913-12-16
OF INTEREST TO FRUIT GROWERS
The Growing Of Apples in Southern
Idaho.

In selecting location for profitable
commercial orcharding the wise bust
ness man will carefully study: first,
the climate; second, the soil and fac
flities for irrigation; and third, trans
portation, the latter of equal import
ance to either of the others.
Consulting the weather bureau of
Boise some years ago the officials of
that department kindly placed at my
disposal records of the weather SER
vice from Grand Junction, Colorado;
Wenachee and Yakima Valleys, Wash
ington; and Hood River. Oregon, and
these reports showed with relation to
the danger from freezing weather in
the month of April that the conditions
as to danger from spring freezing in
Southern Idaho were much less haZ-
ardous in the Boise district, which
fairly represents Southern Idaho, than
In the other districts named. The
conformation of the country sheltered
somewhat from violent storms from
the northwest and it's moderate eleva-
ton of from two thousand to twenty
five hundred feet all combine to give
the Boise basin and Southern Idaho
the most favorable condition for sue
cessful growing of winter apples.
Elevation.
From extended observations by the
horticultural department of the United
States the fact has been developed that
the most favorable conditions for the
growing of winter apples lie between
an elevation of 1000 and 5000 feet At
the higher elevation at which apples
are grown in commercial quantities
the season is shortened at each end.
Below an elevation of two thousand
feet the keeping quality Of the fruit
is lessened. Between two and three
thousand feet in most districts the
season is long enough for proper rip
.ening and coloring Of fruit and the
keeping quality of the same is such as
to make fruit growing under our con-
,ditions attractive to the commercial
buyer for the late winter and spring
markets In the Boise basin many
varieties of winter apples keep in
common farm cellars without extra
care until March, April, and May
and sometimes June.
Soil.
The soil of Southern Idaho, and par
Nticularly in the Snake River Valley,
and the tributaries of the Snake, con-
tain such an admixture of loan, sand,
silt and volcanic ash as to give condi-
lions of unusual fertility. The great
depth of this soil in many districts
makes it practically inexhaustible if
suitably handled and properly Guilt
waited
Transportation.
The apple crop in Southern Colorado
must be moved up very heavy grades
and over high mountain passes. The
Northern Pacific and the Great North
ern cross the mountain ranges at a
lower elevation than the Colorado sys-
tenn. The Hartman system among
these trans-continental systems is per-
haps the strongest, as it has done and
is doing more work in the lowering of
grades, Strengthening of curves and
{ double-tracking than any other. Sew
enty-five million dollars has been ap-
propriated for the development of
double-tracking and other improre-
ments for this system, all to be ex-
pended prior to the Panama exhibition
in 1915.
Travelling over the different systems
one notes with interest the long
freight trains moving over the Oregon
Short Line. a part of the Hartman
system. This assures the commercial
orchardist that when his crop of fruit
is ready to be moved the Hartman
system villa be able to supply cars and
motive power to move the crop to mar
ket wit. greater expedition and GER
dainty than any other system.
Irrigation.
From Colorado to New York
often times the size of the fruit
is lessened and its quality i'm
paired by July, August, and Sep
rtember drought. The growing OF
large fine apples Of superior quality
requires an ample supply of moisture