2o8 CONSERVATION 



fruit growers' associations, which are a period of several weeks and packed 



not only a great benefit to people rais- and marketed at any time during the 



ing fruits, but also to the buyers, as winter, and this fruit I desire to treat 



there is no cutting of prices and no poor of in particular. 



fruit shipped. Pruning, spraying and I have been asked many times "what 

 caring for the trees, and picking and are the best varieties of apples to raise." 

 packing the crops all tend to increased My answer is that it depends entirely 

 values. The fruit industry nearly equals on the climate, soil and location, 

 the lumber industry in capital, and will The Spitzenberg, Jonathan, Winesap, 

 likely lead in a few years. Rome Beauty and Wagener have the 

 When one thinks of a five-year-old highest market value and are always in 

 orchard (which means it is just coming demand in the large apple centers, 

 in to bearing) selling for $300 per acre, There are many other varieties, which 

 it seems absurdly high, but by proper grow and bear equally well, and often 

 attention and cultivation, the land can bring a high price, but the above named 

 easily be made to pay ten per cent, net, varieties command on -the average the 

 or better, annually on this valuation, highest figures. The Winter Banana, 

 Many sales have been made this past which is a new apple, so to speak, has 

 season in these districts, of bearing brought a remarkable price the past two 

 orchards at from $1,500 to $3,000 per seasons. It is a very delicate fruit, how- 

 acre, ever, and hard to ship. It probably has 

 Taking the figures of each district the best coloring and the most delicate 

 separately and collectively, with an tints of any apple grown, but the flavor 

 average yield per acre in the average is poor. It would not be advisable to 

 year, we find that a five-year-old plant a large orchard to this variety, as 

 orchard, which is just beginning to bear it is simply a fad at the present time, 

 nicely at that age, will pay for itself in The finest trade demands a melting 

 four years, if the same were bought for fruit a texture that assimilates when 

 $3,000 per acre. It is nearly impossible eating. 



to buy an orchard after the trees are It is a difficult matter to decide on 

 over three years old, and this is very the different varieties for planting, but 

 plausible, for any owner is generally the best advice I know of is to plant a 

 situated so he can keep his holding until strictly commercial orchard, with, of 

 it comes into full bearing, when he is course, the possible exception of a few 

 made independent with even a ten-acre varieties for family use. 

 tract. It is proper to add that people are 

 Each year sees the price of land becoming so interested in the fruit in- 

 planted with trees increase in value, clustry that the department of agricul- 

 and a conservative price for two- and ture in several of the western states, 

 three-year-old orchards is $700 and as well as at Washington, are flooded 

 $1,000, respectively. with inquiries relative to location and t 

 Of all the numerous varieties of fruit the fruit industry in general. I can state 

 grown in these four irrigated valleys or very positively that there is no question 

 districts, there is probably a greater before the American people to-day that 

 cash return derived from growing is attracting so much attention as irri- 

 peaches, cherries, berries, cantaloupes, gation, and especially as applied to fruit 

 tomatoes and other small fruits, but it culture, and I can venture to say that 

 requires far greater attention and care within two years all the best fruit dis- 

 than does the raising of apples. The tricts that are now irrigated will be set 

 first named fruits must necessarily be out to orchards, and this coming year 

 picked, packed and shipped just before will see a great rush of the best class of 

 they ripen, and any delay is disastrous citizens to these valleys to obtain small 

 to the grower. Not so, however, with tracts of this valuable land, 

 apples. These may be picked through The fruit markets of the world are 



