10 BULLETIN 614, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



apples. There is an average per ranch of 6.28 acres in nonbearing 

 apple orchard and 1.79 acres in other fruits. As already indicated, 

 a greater acreage is devoted to other crops here than elsewhere in the 

 district, there being an average of 4.17 acres of such crops per farm, 

 3.23 acres of which are in alfalfa. On account of the size of farm 

 perhaps the rancher is not able to put in as much time on the bearing 

 apple orchard as is the usual case in the North Yakima district. (See 

 Table IV.) 



Table IV.' — -Average size of ranch and of areas in crops for 56 ranches in the Zillah 



district. 



Item. 



Method of culture. 



Clean 

 (32 records). 



Mulch-crop 

 (24 records). 



Average acres in ranch 



Average tillable acres in ranch 



Average acreage in bearing apple orchard 



Average acreage in young apples and other fruit. . 

 Average acreage in other crops, including pasture . 

 Tillable acres per horse 



22.26 

 21. .56 

 7.70 

 9.33 

 4.53 

 8.04 



20.66 

 19.98 

 7.85 

 6.40 

 5.73 

 7.92 



TYPES OF RANCHERS. 



Two distinct types of ranchers are found in the valley. In the 

 North Yakima district are found men engaged in ranching who were 

 formerly professional men and tradesmen in different parts of the 

 United States. Many of these men are at present interested in some 

 other business besides ranching. The orchard is more or less inci- 

 dental to the welfare of such men. However, there are several men 

 who came to this section unacquainted with the business of apple 

 growing, expecting soon to acquaint themselves with it and make a 

 comfortable living and at the same time have all the privileges of 

 the near-by city. Many of the owners of these small tracts are inter- 

 ested in the development of orchards farther away from town. 



In the Zillah district are found ranchers of a somewhat different type. 

 Many of these men were engaged in other lines of farming before com- 

 ing to this region to settle. Some came at an early date, when the 

 price of land was between $30 and $50 an acre, but there are many 

 who came during the boom period and paid high prices for their land. 

 A number of the ranchers were eastern and central-western farmers. 

 This type of rancher as a rule is acquainted with general farming and 

 usually is found growing other crops than fruit and raising some stock 

 besides. 



The ranchers of both districts are generally well educated. Up-to- 

 date schoolhouses are found in many parts of the valley. (See fig. 2.) 

 A few men in the Zillah district own property farther down the lower 

 valley and devote it somewhat to hay growing and cattle raising, 

 but this is not the general rule. 



