8 BULLETIN 518, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



early farming was confined principally to those areas where there 

 was little or no timber. The valley was for the most part heavily 

 timbered, particularly on the east side. For many years the only 

 work done in clearing was on the small tracts around the settlers' 

 cabins, which supplied all the land necessary for agricultural pur- 

 poses until markets became available. 



The first orchard in the valley was planted about 1875, on the 

 west side, but none of commercial importance was planted before 

 1890. From this time on the plantings increased, the maximum 

 amount of planting being done between 1902 and 1909. During the 

 last few years plantings have largely ceased. 



The west side having a sandy soil, it was thought for many years 

 to be the only part of the valley suitable for profitable fruit grow- 

 ing. At the present time it is the principal strawberry-producing 

 section. The more sandy soils of the valley seem particularly adapted 

 to strawberries, and the strawberry industry held an important place 

 in the agriculture of the valley long before the apple became domi- 

 nant. On account of the higher altitude the upper-valley straw- 

 berries ripen much later than those of the lower valley, thus giving 

 the district a long marketing season. 



Apples have been planted almost to the exclusion of other orchard 

 fruits. The land on the east side was developed later than that on 

 the west side, but when it was found that the land on the east side 

 was well adapted to apples it was rapidly bought up in small tracts, 

 cleared, and set out to orchard. The east side has now considerably 

 more orchard area than the west side, the farming being more in- 

 tensive, and devoted more largely to commercial fruit production. 

 (See PL IV.) The more recent settlers confined their attention al- 

 most wholly to fruit farming. As the demand for land increased the 

 price rose very materially. To avoid these high prices the newer 

 settlers often located on the slopes, in many cases above the irriga- 

 tion canal, and in the upper Hood River Valley, where the land as 

 yet is little cleared. 



Recent development of transportation facilities has contributed to 

 the valley's rapid development. 



SOIL. 



The Hood River Valley is located within the area of an important 

 rock formation known as the Columbia lava. Thus, the soil of the 

 valley is in general of volcanic origin, modified by glacial action. 



The commercial orchards of the lower A^alley are for the most part 

 located on the Hood silt loam type of soil. The Hood silt loam is 

 generally of a light gray color. The silt content is low and it often 

 approaches a sandy loam in texture. This soil covers the greater 



