The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1919-07-11
FRANK ". WINGATE IS
SUCCESSFUL GROWER
Peshastin Man Demonstrates That
Orchard Is Paying Investment
Will Net $4,000 This Year

Frank Wingate, the owner of n
acres of bearing orchard in the Pc
shastin district, is about the most OPP
| timistic fruit grower and also one of
the best boosters for the Upper We
natchee valley that we know of.
Frank says, "Pm here to stay. | en-
Joy life, and just tell me where |
could invest the same amount of
money and get as good returns"
| There's no argument; we concede that
Frank is right. Before proceeding
further with this narrative let us
state that after Mr.. Wingate has
harvested his crop of apples this fall
and paid off all expenses he expects
to put away at the least figure $10,
900.
About ten years ago an eXhardware
and general store man, who was tired
of the strenuous life and seeking an
occupation that would permit his
coming into closer contact with ma
ture, and at the same time offer a
recompense, stopped off in the We
natchee valley. 1t did not take him
long to decide that a great future
awaited those who went in for fruit
growing. The business was new to
him, but that made no difference
he could learn. He chose the Peshas-
tin district and bought seventeen
acres from H. w. Otis. This man
was Frank Wingate. The orchard
was partly set to apple trees and he
continued to set out trees until he
had covered every foot of the ground.
He studied the apple business from
every angle, but more especially the
culture and care Of his trees. Mis-
takes were made, but experience is
sometimes a good teacher, and once
made they never occurred again.
He gave his orchard his own personal
supervision, and every tree received
attention. He discovered that certain
varieties did not do so well in his
particular locality, also that certain
kinds were in more demand and brot
better prices, so these trees were up
rooted and others planted in their
places, or they underwent the graft
ing process. So that today we believe
We can say that the Wingate or
chard is above the average and will
compare favorably with any in the
Wenatchee valley. Frank has his
own ideas about taking care of an or
chard. For one thing, he grows al
falfa between his trees but never cuts
it. He doesn't believe in robbing the
soil and believes the trees derive
much benefit due to this fact. In adj
| dition to this he uses a considerable
amount of fertilizer. He also has a
lot of notions that differ from
other growers-but the fact remains
he has made a success of his orchard.
Frank has met with adversely sew
eral times in his life but it has not
effected him as it does some people.
He is nearing the three score mark
but is still one of those genial, cheer
full sort of fellows that you like to
meet. He is young fellow about 45
in appearance, has young ideas and
picks young associates. He enjoys
life and doesn't figure on ""cashing
in" for a long time yet. His orchard
isn't for sale at any price. AS we
stated before, he is here to stay. He
believes the Wenatchee valley is des-
tined to become the richest spot in the
state and his advice to every one,
more especially the young man, is to
"stay and grow up with the Wenat-
chee valley"
This is one of a series of articles
that will follow concerning men who
have helped to develop the apple
growing industry in the Upper We
natchee valley.