6 BULLETIN 614, U. 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. 
