COST OF PRODUCING APPLES IN HOOD RIVER VALLEY. 9 



part of the lower valley between Hood River and the range of 

 mountains along the eastern boundary of the area as far up as Odell. 

 On this area is located the largest and most intensive apple section 

 of the valley. The drainage is generally good. 



The soil of the Underwood loam covers the largest areas of the 

 valley, in fact, more than all other types combined. It occurs on the 

 slopes of the mountains in and about the valley. The soils of the 

 middle valley are almost entirely of this type. It is a residual soil, 

 derived from the weathering of the underlying basalt. Its value for 

 agricultural purposes varies according to the topography. With the 

 exception of the steeper slopes the parts which are cleared are used 

 for the production of apples and strawberries. 



Many other types of soil are found in the valley. The Parkdale 

 loam covers most of the upper valley. It is probably derived from 

 weathered ice-laid material. 



On the west side of Hood River Valley the soils are of the Wind 

 River types, varying from a strong loam to a fine sandy loam. Be- 

 cause of their coarse nature, these soils are rather excessively drained. 

 They need irrigation and are in general more difficult to cultivate 

 than the prevailing types found on the east side of the river- Of all 

 these types the Hood silt loam apparently is the best adapted to 

 apple culture. 1 



CLIMATE. 



Hood River is located to the east of the main range of the Cascade 

 Mountains, but in a region of moderately abundant rainfall. It is 

 characterized by moderate winters, with frequent heavy snowfalls, 

 long, rather cool summers, and comparative freedom from damaging 

 frosts. The rainfall, which is approximately 35 inches per year, is 

 equal to that of the apple-growing sections of New York or Missouri, 

 but owing to the fact that there is a rainy and a dry season, it is often 

 desirable to resort to irrigation, which is now becoming a general 

 practice. Destructive storms seldom occur, and damage from hail or 

 storms is infrequent. 



Because of the irregular topography there is a marked difference 

 in temperature and precipitation between the different sections of 

 the valley. The number of clear days is considerably greater in the 

 lower than in the upper valley. The length of season may vary a 

 month between the town of Hood River and the town of Parkdale, 

 located in the upper valley about 24 miles to the south. Climato- 



1 U. S. Dept. of Agr., Bureau of Soils, Field Operations 1912, Soil Survey of the Hood 

 River-White Salmon River Area, Oregon-Washington, by A. T. Strahorn and E. B. Wat- 

 son. 



72668°— Bull. 518—17 2 



