1964 WASHINGTON 



this fruit, and is still planting more. 



There is no other 



, 



portion of the United States, and perhaps not in the 

 world, where this variety is so largely planted. There 

 is a demand for a large, somewhat acid prune, and the 

 Italian is satisfactory. The demand is growing and new 

 markets are constantly being opened up. 



The French prune (Agen, Prune d'Agen, Petite, etc.), 

 is planted in considerable numbers, but nothing like the 

 Italian. Washington seems to be unable to compete with 



WASHINGTON. 



2715. Washington, to illustrate the general physical features. 



California in the production of this fruit. Nevertheless 

 it is fairly profitable in Washington, yielding about the 

 same number of pounds to the tree as the Italian, and 

 selling in the eastern markets at a good price. But 

 the Italian usually sells for more money, as the fruit is 

 much larger. 



The Silver prune, or Coe Plum (Coe Golden Drop/, 

 is a large, handsome prune when well prepared and 

 always brings the top market price, selling for two or 

 three cents per pound more than Italian or French. 

 Not a great many are planted, and in some cases the 

 prune-growers work their silver prunes over to Italians. 

 There are numerous varieties of prune planted on the 

 coast, but none in so great quantities as the Italian. 

 Much of the fruit of this prune is shipped green, i. e., 

 in a half-ripe condition. This finds its way to the most 

 eastern markets, and some of it even to England. The 

 fruit of the Italian stands shipment well, better than 

 any other variety. Most large growers have evaporators 

 in their orchards, and the most of the fruit is preserved 

 in this way. 



Apples. The late-keeping winter apple undoubtedly 

 leads all other fruits in the total acreage now planted 

 in the state. The counties shipping the greatest 

 quantity are Whitman, Walla Walla, Yakima and Spo- 

 kane. The varieties mostly planted are Ben Davis, 

 Gano, Northern Spy, Wagener, Esopus, Arkansas, 

 Jonathan, Yellow Newtown and Baldwin. The lower 

 warm valleys grow the long season apples, like Yellow 

 Newtown and Esopus, to perfection, while the higher 

 altitudes are best adapted to a shorter season fruit, 

 like the Wealthy and the Gravenstein. All apples color 

 finely, and are very fair in appearance. There are few 

 off years, but there seem to be full years and slim 

 years, though the crops are much more constant than 

 in the middle or eastern states. Apple growing is 

 amongst the most profitable of the fruit industries. 

 Many large orchards have been planted that are not yet 

 in bearing. At present the state grows much more fruit 

 than it can consume. 



Pears. -Pears are grown to great, perfection in almost 

 every part of the state, but there is no finer fruit than 



WASHINGTON 



that which comes from the low warm valleys of the 

 Snake, the Columbia, Walla Walla and Yakima. The 

 Bartlett is the great summer pear, followed closely by 

 Flemish Beauty. For fall and winter, Anjou, Clairgeau, 

 Easter and Winter Nelis are largely grown. Pears have 

 been successfully shipped from the Pacific coast to 

 Liverpool and London. The planting of pears is not re- 

 ceiving the same attention as the planting of apples, 

 yet a number of acres are annually added to the orchards 

 of the state. 



Plums. Certainly nowhere 

 on this continent is the plum 

 more at home than on the 

 Pacific coast. Unfortunately 

 plums are not profitable. At 

 present there are no canneries 

 to take care of the surplus fruit, 

 and most of the plums are 

 poor long-distance shippers. 

 There is a local demand for 

 a considerable quantity of 

 plums, but great quantities 

 annually go to waste under 

 the trees. The varieties 

 mostly planted are Washing- 

 ton, Jefferson, Peach, Pond, 

 Lombard and the Damsons. 



Cherries. Sweet cherries 

 grow to great perfection m all 

 portions of the state, but espe- 

 cially so in the Puget Sound 

 region and in the warm valleys 

 of the east side. Some new 

 varieties, natives of the coast, 

 notably Bing, Lambert and 

 Lewelling, give great promise, 

 and already are leaders in the 

 markets of the West. The sour 

 varieties also grow and yield 

 abundantly. Sweet cherries 

 attain their greatest perfection 



in the warm valleys at an altitude not much above 

 1,000 feet. Sour varieties do best on the high lands, at 

 an altitude of about 2,000 feet. Cherries have bren 

 found to be profitable, yet few new plantations are he- 

 ing set. The reason for this is probably to be found in 

 the labor market, it being almost impossible to get the 

 necessary help to care for a large crop of cherries. 



Grapes are not planted to the same extent here as in 

 the eastern and middle states. The native varieties do 

 not seem to succeed so far north, except in a few fa- 

 vored spots. In the low warm valleys of the Snake and 

 Columbia all varieties seem to do well. Even the Eu- 

 ropean ( Vitis vinifera) here grows to perfection, and 

 usually receives no special winter protection. These 

 Old World grapes are fairly profitable, the local market 

 usually being good. 



Small Fruits. The raspberry, blackberry, dewberry, 

 strawberry and gooseberry all do well in the state. In 

 some sections of western Washington these fruits are 

 grown in great quantities and are mostly shipped to the 

 Montana markets. While the prices realized are not 

 large, the crops are so abundant that small-fruit farm- 

 ing pays well. 



Cranberries grow in the coast counties and on some 

 parts of Puget Sound. Where suitable land is found 

 the returns from cranberry culture are said to be very 

 satisfactory. 



Cauliflower and Cabbage Seed. The production of 

 these seeds is now carried on in an extensive way on 

 Laconner Flats (reclaimed tide-lands) on Puget Sound. 

 The demand is good, and the crop profitable. Cabbage 

 and onion seed is produced in great quantities. 



Bulbs. At Whatcom, Whatcom county, an attempt is 

 now being made to cultivate what are known as Holland 

 bulbs. There are two establishments engaged in grow- 

 ing hyacinths, tulips, narcissus, etc., and the results 

 are promising. Tulips make great numbers of offsets, 

 and hyacinths propagate freely by the same methods 

 practiced in Holland. 



Horticulture, as an occupation, may be said to be 

 profitable within the state. It is true, markets are at a 

 great distance, but the mines in Idaho, Montana and 



