How an old mining ditch and a boulder patch became a $6,000 orchard

The Methow valley is one of the many localities in the state of Washington with a vast wealth of undeveloped resources. The climate is mild, without extremes of either heat or cold; the soil is very fertile and easily cultivated. The rainfall is limited, especially in the valley proper, and irrigation is necessary for most profitable results; but water is abundant and easily available. Alfalfa is the principal crop grown on the rich valley lands under cultivation, producing three and four cuttings of one and a half to two tons per cutting. The bench lands have sufficient moisture to produce good crops of grain, grass, corn, vegetables and the hardy varieties of fruit without irrigation.

Stock raising is the principal industry at present, the cattle finding an abundance of rich feed on the bunch grass hills for eight months in the year, after which they are gathered in the valleys and pastured on the aftermath of the meadows or fed hay. All stock are exceptionally healthy and vigorous, and there has never been any outbreak of epidemic disease since the valley was settled. Seattle is the principal market for both horses and cattle. The lack of transportation facilities has discouraged any general attempts in the direction of either dairying or mixed farming; those who have tried either have been entirely successful, finding a local demand at fair prices from the mines and lumber camps.

The future outlook for fruit growing is very promising. The apple does well, not only in the valley on the irrigated lands, but well up on the benches and near the foothills without irrigation. Trees grow fast and bear young; fruit of good size, highly colored and of fine flavor. The apples from this locality that have gone to Seattle always sell at the top of the market. On the irrigated lands peaches have proven a money maker, the trees being remarkably healthy and the fruit always classed in the market as extra fine.

Mr. J. M. Holt, who has 45 acres of irrigated land, only a part of which is under cultivation, is so well satisfied with the results already achieved that he will as rapidly as possible get the whole 45 acres into orchard and berries. One-eighth of an acre of Lucretia dewberry produced this year $100 worth of fruit. Strawberries produce 300 or 400 crates per acre. Mr. Holt shipped 1,500 crates of peaches and sold over 500 crates to his neighbors. He gives the Crawfords — early and late — the first place as money makers, with Mountain Rose for early and Beers Smock for late. His apple trees were all clean and thrifty, and bearing well, with Ben Davis in the lead; Newton Pippin productive and fruit exceptionally large and even in size; Spitzenberg bearing well, fruit large and finely colored. Like many other beginners, Mr. Holt had made some mistakes, such as planting too many varieties, using too much water and planting too close together. Mr. Holt came to Washington from California and is well pleased with the change, considering the opportunities for a man with small capital much better here than in California, where the price of land has gone beyond the reach of a poor man.

Just across the Methow river from Pateros, on the west bank of the Columbia, the first bench is thickly covered with granite boulders from three to thirty feet high. There is a rich friable sediment soil between these boulders. There was a narrow strip of fifteen to twenty acres along the river bank where the boulders were not so thick. Several years ago this was taken as a homestead, an old mining ditch utilized for irrigation, and an orchard planted, mostly peaches. The owner prospered indifferently for a few years and then sold out to W. Z. Cooper for $1,000. Mr. Cooper cleaned up the orchard, put it under good cultivation, replanted where trees had died out, planted some new ground to strawberries, blackberries and raspberries, and he now has about twenty acres under cultivation, including one acre of alfalfa, which produces about 10 tons of hay per year. Last year he sold 5,000 boxes of peaches from 900 trees. This year the crop was much less, only a little over 3,000 boxes. He thinks it is a mistake to allow more than about four boxes to the tree. By thinning to this the trees will bear every year, the fruit will be larger, more uniform, better colored and will sell better.

Among the rock and vines are Muscat, Muscatel and Tokay grapes growing vigorously and maturing a good crop of delicious grapes. Tomatoes are a very profitable crop — one little plat of four square rods producing eighty dollars' worth. Asked what he valued the place at, Mr. Cooper said "about $6,000," but he would not sell at that price, as it would pay good interest on a much higher valuation. These valuable improvements were the result of five years of intelligent work, as Mr. Cooper had only brains and muscle as capital.

On the bench land four miles northwest of Pateros, W. H. Egbert has a homestead that he is improving. He has raised three tons of grain hay to the acre, carrots thirty to forty tons to the acre. Mr. Egbert showed two carrots weighing seven and a half pounds each. From 78 tomato plants set in the open ground May 18, he sold 1,000 pounds of ripe tomatoes, 200 pounds of green ones for pickling, and there were 500 to 600 pounds of green ones on the vines when frost came October 10th.

P. J. Redding of Minnesota came west four years ago and spent some time looking over the country without finding anything to suit him, and returned to his home. The first blizzard of the season, however, set him to thinking, with the result that before spring he resolved to sell out there and come to Washington. He bought a farm of 160 acres on the bench about a mile back from the river and about 300 feet high, and contemplates carrying on mixed farming with dairying as a leading factor, having already eight cows. He is more than pleased with the mild climate and the great number of sunny days — well satisfied with this year's crop and enthusiastic regarding the possibilities of the future.