Leading Apple Regions of the United States 65 



respects, these two districts will be discussed separately on 

 account of their importance. 



Yakima Valley. 



The Yakima district is located in the south central part 

 of the state and includes approximately 4Q;000 acres of 

 apple plantings which are for the most part situated in the 

 valley land lying along the Yakima River and its tribu- 

 tary streams. 



As stated in the history of the Yakima district, the first 

 commercial planting was made in this region about 1888 

 and as late as 1900 the total acreage of all orchard land 

 was not more than 3,000 acres, and the total production 

 did not exceed 200 carloads of fruit. Heaviest planting 

 occurred after 1900 and reached a climax about 1908. 



Apple-growing is the principal industry in the Yakima 

 Valley and, as might be expected, intensive methods of cul- 

 tivation are practiced, every effort being directed at the 

 production of high marketable quality fruit. The average 

 fruit farm is under twenty acres and is devoted almost 

 exclusively to apples. Peaches and pears are grown in 

 lesser quantities and represent approximately 12 per cent 

 of the total fruit acreage of the county. In more recent 

 years greater diversification has been emphasized, with the 

 result that growers with larger acreages are planting sugar- 

 beets, potatoes and other crops. 



The productivity and ideal climatic conditions of the 

 Yakima Valley attracted an unusually high type of settlers. 

 The community spirit and social conditions are unsur- 

 passed by those in any other apple region. Good roads 

 have been constructed and excellent facilities for handling, 

 packing and storing the fruit are available. Probably 



