6 BULLETIN 614, IT. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



In 1894 the total apple output shipped from the valley probably 

 amounted to about 25 carloads and was assembled from small home 

 orchards. The fruit was layer packed but not wrapped. The old 

 60-pound box, 12 by 12 by 21 inches was in common use at that 

 time. The apples were marketed chiefly in coast cities and netted 

 the growers about $1.50 per box. In 1896 Mr. Fred Thompson 

 shipped from the Yakima Valley what was probably its first car of 

 fruit to be sold east of the Mississippi River. This car consisted 

 chiefly of peaches and pears. 



It was about 1894 that the apple-planting period really began. 

 Reliable estimates place the total acreage of all orchard land at about 

 3,000 acres in 1900 and the total apple crop for that year at about 

 200 carloads. This output was nearly doubled in the next two years, 

 during which time the early commercial plantings were coming into 

 bearing. With this development of the fruit industry had come the 

 growing of alfalfa, potatoes, and hops upon a fairly large scale. 



Growers received in the neighborhood of $1.50 per box for apples 

 during these times, and this high price brought on a very extensive 

 planting of apples, which reached a climax about 1907 and 1908. 

 The first varieties to be planted were princiaplly Ben Davis, Winesap, 

 Jonathan, Baldwin, and White Pearmain. 



SOIL. 



Yakima sandy loam occupies not only the principal portion of the 

 Ahtanum Valley, where the investigations about North Yakima were 

 made, but also the district in which Buena, Zillah, and Boone are 

 located. This soil is typically a fine gray sandy loam, light and friable, 

 and varies in depth from a few inches to 60 feet or more. It lends 

 itself easily to cultivation and is well adapted to the crops which 

 may be grown in this climate. 



DISEASES AND PESTS. 



Fire blight, both on the pear and apple, is a serious menace to 

 the fruit industry of the valley. Many of the orchards suffered 

 from the prevalence of this disease in 1912 and 1914. Considerable 

 damage has been done each year and but for the efficient work of 

 the county inspector and the organizations of the growers them- 

 selves a greater loss would have resulted. 



Apple powdery-mildew has been found in all parts of the valley, 

 affecting the Jonathan more than any other variety; but on the 

 whole it has done little damage. Both iron sulphide and atomic 

 sulphur have been used for its control. It is only within the last 

 two years that it has caused valley-wide infection. 



Collar-rot, as it is locally known, has been found in some of the 

 orchards of the valley and many apple trees have been affected 

 seriously. Methods of control of this disease are being studied. 



