OI OT OO OO OO OO cas

 

HORTICULTURE
é OF THE
WENATCHEE VALLEY

ee ed

Thesis for Degree of M. Hort.
Durward Frederick Fisher.

rey ervreuwrwvyveer wwe
il il ati i i tt sad

én

Poy eee Te
ate a)

as

Pe a

ee ee be id tt ai.
QOQeaeaern

4

 

t
c
cs

 

aero eee
a tt a i a an eral

a

 

ae

 
 

 
Vat
ae 8
BNE tS
: Fie x
aay) 42

oe

 
SSHSBSSHREEAES

HORTICULTURE OF THE WENATCHEE VALLEY

OU 8889068 BOD

Thesis for Degree of M. Hort.
Durward Frederick Fisher

1917
THESIS
HORTICULTURE OF THE WENATCHEE VALLEY

 

INTRODUCTION

Other States produce more apples than Washington, indeed it
{s but llth in the list of apple producing States, but as its
production is limited to a few favored localities it can boast
the most highly specialized and intensive apple growing industry
in the world. The commercial apple yield of the State can be
credited largely to the districts known as the Wenatchee and
Yakima Valleys. There are a few other districts where apple
growing assumes major importance, but the aggregate production of
all does not approach that of either Wenatchee or Yakima.

Other deciduous fruits are grown in large quantity in the
Wenatchee Valley but the apple is by far the most important crop.
An account of the horticultural industry of this region therefore

’

resolves itself very largely into a story of the foundation and

development of its apple growing industry.

GEOCRAPHIC LOCATION
The Wenatchee Valley covers no such extent as any of our
major river valleys, and indeed, geographically, it might be
considered of very minor importance. It is located in central
Washington, between 47° and 48° north latitude, and just east of
the Cascade Mountains. \
The mighty Columbia, into which the Wenatchee River ompties,

96302
(2)
receives its flood and registers no sign. The majestic Cascade
Range, where the Wenatchee finds its source, raises its snow-clad
peaks across the head of the Valley, shutting it away from the
Pacific Coast. To the east stretch miles of sand and sage brush,
a region of hot winds and desolate outlook. To the north it is
much the same, but with many spurs of mountains and foothills, a
country largely treeless and,in summer, dry, brown, and seared
even as far as the Canadian line. To the south the granite
range of the Wenatchee Mountains cuts off the Valley from a similar
region, the Yakima Valley.

In such isolation it is not surprising then that the Wenatchee
Valley is little known, and is not mentioned in the school geogra-
phies. The chances are that unloss one has noted some particular-
ily beautiful apples on a fruit stand, and has taken the trouble
to look up the place labelled as the point of origin, the average

person does not know where Wenatchee is.

EARLY HISTORY
A history of the Wenatchee country would not be concerned
with much antedating the building of the Great Northern Railway
in 1893-4. To that man of keen foresight and marvelous ability
who conceived the idea of this great undertaking, to that dreamer
of empire, and that empire builder, James J. Hill, does the

present day Wenatchee owe its existence and horticultural prominence.

Before the coming of the Great Northern only a few hardy pioneers

had laboriously packed their way across the mountains from the

older Yakima country to engage in stock ranging. A few fruit

trees were planted where water for irrigation was available and
(3)
gave surprising results, but it is probable that fruit growing on
a commercial scale was hardly dreamed of.

The commercial plantations were not begun until the develop-
ment of irrigation projects was begun. Practically the entire
district was waste land until this time. Such then, was the
region which has since developed into its present preeminent
position as a deciduous fruit growing section. The district has
suffered all the vicissitudes of exploitation, real-estate booms,
quick fortunes, and torturing failures for many people. It is now
in the throes of its reconstruction period, still suffering, still
hoping, still confident. An analysis of these present conditions
based upon past history, and suggestions for the future organi zation

of the industry furnishes the theme of the present discussion.

SUBSIDIARY PISTRICTS

The general location of the region has already been noted,
but included in the section known as the Wenatchee country, and
whose products are marketed under the name of "Wenatchee Valley
Fruit’, are various districts subsidiary to the city of Wenatchee,
altho not actually located in the Wenatchee Valley. Indeed, the
city of Wenatchee itself is not located in the Wenatchee Valley,
being about three miles below the confluence of the Wenatchee and
Columbia rivers.

The Wenatchee district embraces all the territory which uses
Wenatchee as a shipping point. It consists of a saucer shaped
pocket in the mountains, divided by the Columbia River into two
nearly equal sections. It is about six miles in diameter but

extends along the Columbia in both directions for several miles
(4)

and also a short distance up the Wenatchee in narrow strips along
the rivers. This is the principal district of the whole Wenatcheo
countryend the city of Wenatchee is the commercial center of the
entire north-central Washington region.

The Rock Island district is about 10 miles below Wenatchee
on the opposite side of the Columbia, and is the earliest district
of the "Wenatchee Valley”. It has the distinction of annually
shipping the first car of Winter Banana apples into the New York
and Chicago markets.

Up the Columbia are several other districts, also dominated
by Wenatchee, and marketing their fruit under the name of Ven-
atchee. Altho considerably removed from the Wenatchee Valley
proper, their conditions are so nearly identical with those pre-
vailing at Wenatchee that they may be connected with it in this
discussion. These districts are, in the order met with in travell-
ing up the Columbia from Wenatchee; Orondo, Entiat, and Chelan.
Farther up ie the Okanogan country, likewise tributary to Wenatchee,
but so far removed, and naturally forming a separate unit of dis-
tricts in the Okanegan Valley that it will not be considered here.
The plantings are all young and the region has therefore not ex-
perienced the same conditions as have prevailed at Wenatchee. It
is for such secticns as the Okanogan to read the lessons growing
out of the experiences of the Wenatchee country.

Following up the Wenatchee River from Wenatchee, and in the
Wenatchee Valley proper for about 20 miles to the west are several
sub-districts named from their shipping points; - Monitor, Cash-

mere, Dryden, Peshastin, and Leavenworth. Of these Cashmere is
(5)
the most important, and next to Wenatchee ships the greatest
tonnage out of the Valley. Here the Valley widens out consider-
ably, forming another pocket similar to Wenatchee, and cut by the

Wenatchee River.

CLIMATE

The Wenatchee country is strictly an arid region. The land
in its natural condition produced nothing but sagebrush except
along streams, where other vegetation such as willows, poplars,
service berries, and a few other trees and shrubs find favorable
conditions for existence.

The summer temperature is usually high, but due to the dry-
ness of the atmosphere the heat is seldom oppressive and relief is
always hai at sun-down, for immediately the temperature moderates.
The nights, even in midsummer are always agreeably cool. Winters
are mild, with the temperature seldom going below zero. They are
also of short duration, snow covering the ground, as a rule, for
not longer than two months.

Comparatively strong winds usually prevail in the spring, but
seldom do any damage. Occasionally during midsummer, and especial-
ly following a period of hot days, high winds are also experienced,
sometimes accommanied with hail, which causes much damage.

The average annual precipitation for the Wenatchee country
varies from 7.85” at Rock Island to 25.25" at Leavenworth, in-
creasing with the altitude. Snowfall and winter rains account
for most of the precipitation, as rain seldom falls from April to
October except in elevated localities. Rainfali is nowhere de-

pended upon for the requirements of fruit growing, except in a
(6)

few instances at Leavenworth and in isolated mountain canyons at
high elevations where dry-farming methods are practised. These
instances are so few that they need not be considered for practical-
ly the entire region is dependent on irrigation, and finds in it
a most satisfactory means of moisture supply.

Success with irrigation is predicated upon an adequate and
dependable supply of water. These conditions are admirably met
in the Wenatchee country and it is plain that much of the success
in fruit growing found here has resulted from these conditions.

The following tabulation compiled from the records of the
Washington section of the Weather Bureau shows the average climatic
conditions prevailing in different parts of the Wenatchee country in 1916.

CLIMATIC CONDITIONS - WENATCHEE REGION, WASH.
Precipitation - Yearly Distribution, 1916.

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

: Month ; Average Precipitation :
= Rock island ;Nenatches: Deven: beavenvorthithessn
° Jan. ° 0.70 : 0. 97 : 2.93 $ 3. 67 : 69 :
¢ Feb. : 2.69 : 3.20 : 6231 3: 4.92 : ae :
: Mar. : 1.32 3 1.38 : 3.76 : 5.68 : 0.81 :
: Apr. : 0.06 : 0.07 3: 0.21 : 0.17 : 0.64 :
: May : 0.33 : 0.10 : 0.25 ¢: 0.64 3: 12.05 s
: June : 0.37 : 1.25 : 1.73 3 1.73 : 0.8 :
>: July : 1.07 >: 1.40 3: 1.02 : 1.02 3: 0.30 :
: Aug. : 0.10 > 0.43 3: 0.15 ¢: 0.06 : 0236 :
: Sept. : 0.53 : 0.65 : 0.35 ;: 0.14 ¢ 0.55 ¢:
: Oct. 3: trace : 0.03 : 0.24 : 0.49 : 0.80 :
¢: Nov. : 0.26 : 0.60 : 1.43 : 2238 : 1.93 :
: Dec. 3: O.53 3 ooo. $381 5 4.35.3. 1.88 :
: Tet ° 7.85 : :

  
 

 

 

  

clear dayss

     

Islan : 633: 160 : 148 : 58 :
VYenatchee : 743 3 160 : 107 : 99 :
Dryden : 960 : 204 : 87 : 7§ :
Leavenworth : 1158 : 176 : 101 : 8§ :
Chelan : 1116 : 118 : 195 3 53 :

 
(7)

Temperature, 1916.

 

 

 

: Month : Mean Temperature 2
: s Rock Island : Wenatchee : Leavenworth : Chelan ;
° Jan. $ 13.4 ° 12.8 3 1) .4 3 14.0 3
¢ Feb. : 27.6 3 274.3 ° 2749 ° 27.7 $
¢ Mar. : 40.0 $ 40.3 3: 27.1 : 38.9 ;
: Apr. : 45.8 : 52.1 : 47.8 ¢ §1.6 :
: May: 56.6 : 56.7 3 51.6 : 56.6 :
: June: 65.0 : 65.2: 61.6 : 63.7 3:
: July : 68.6 2 67.8 3 s: 67.6 3:
¢ Aug. 3: 73.6 : 72 2 : >: 72.6 3:
: Sept. : 65.8 : 62.4. 3 57.6 : 63.5 3
* Oct. ° 51.4 ° 50.6 ° 48.8 ° 51.0 °
: Nov. 3: 34.0 $ 33.8 3 : 34.4 :
3: Dec. 3 23.4 3 22.9 3 21.4 : 2362 :
$ Annual: 47.6 2 47.0 3s 3 47.1 3

 

 

Records have not been maintained long enough at some of the
stations to give exact data on normal weather conditions. NHow-
ewer, the year 1916, records of which are given above, can ve
regarded as quite typical, and in general as representative of
average conditions.

The influento of topozraphy on climate is here shown to a
remarkable degree. The high Cascade range to the west practically
shuts thie section off from the moderating effects of the winds
from the Pacific. This interception of the moist air currents by
the mountains gives the region its low annual precipitation. The
air, moving from the west, logos ita moisture as it is ceoled in
passing over the mountains, but in descending on the east side is
dynamically warmed so that it blows over the Yenatches country as
a dry wind, anid favors clear skies and scant precipitation.

The wide daily range of temperature is accounted for by the
very slight moderating effects felt from ocean winis, and the air,

being deprived of most of its moisture allows great radiation of

heat during the night.
(8)

LENGTH OF SEASON

The length ef the growing season and freedom from killing frosts
has had an important bearing on the success achieved here in the
production of fruits. A crop ef apples has never been lost because
of frost, and rarely has any material damage whatever been reported.
Cherries, peaches, apricots, and pears have occasionally been damaged,
but net te such an extent that any grower has ever felt the need ef
resorting to smudging or erchard heating. There is net a single
orchard in the Wenatchee country which is equipped for fighting frost.

The following tab&lation presents the average date of the first
killing frost tn the fall and tne latest in the spring for different

sections of this regien.

Dryden
Leavenworth

Place Rarliest Fall Frost Latest Spring Frost
Rock Island )
Wenatchee  ) After October 15 April 15 to May 1
Moniter )
Cashmere ) October 1 to 15 Way 1 to 15
)
)

September 15 to October 1 May 15 to June l
Chelan September 15 to Osteber 1 After June 1

The influence of elevation in these different parts of the
region is very marked on the blessoming season of fruit trees. There
is approximately a difference of about 10 days in the blessoming
season of any particular variety of fruit for each 100 ft. difference
in elevation. Treas are past the bleoming period at Rock Island
before they have begun to bloom at Wenatchee, while at Cashmere their

season is about two weeks later still. Destructive frosts, while
(9)

prevailing later at the higher elevations are not more liable te
affect the bloem. Early fall frosts never affect the crops adversely,
and indeed are regarded as faverable influences on the coloring of
the apples. “Freezes” late in the fall semetimes cause much damage
in cases where growers have been dilatory in their harvesting oper-
ations. In 1916, a year of exceptionally heavy crop that taxed te
the utmost all the facilities for handling the fruit, found a Jarge
quantity of apples still in the orchards after Nov. 15. Probably
as many as 500 carloads were frezen, but prompt action and careful
handling in thawing out the fruit reduced the less to an estimated
total of but 100 carloads.

SOIL

The soil ef the Wenatchee country is very fertile, with great
moisture holding capacity, and is regarded as peculiarily adapted
to orcharding. It has been described by Prof. Henry Landes, State
Geelegist ef Washingten, as fellows.

"The sells of the Wenatchee Valley are mainly ef twe types,
namely, the bread alluvial fans which are lecated at the foot of
the steeper slepes and which appear te the best advantage in the
sweeping semicircle which contains the tewn of Wenatchee and ite
neighbering orchards. At the meuths ef each ef several canyons
these fans have been formed. The canyons have been carved mainly
in the upturned sandstones and clays which come criginally frem
the granite rocks. Above the town ef Wenatchee, continuing up the
Valley, while there are occasional fans, the river terraces are
much more conspicuous. The terraces are composed at the base of

glacial bowlders and gravels. Upon these one will find river gravels
(10)
and sands. The soil to a depth of several feet, which has been
superimposed upon the the gravel and sand, is largely of eolian
origin and hence is very fine in texture and retains the moisture
very readily.

“In general, one might say that thruout the Wenatchee Valley
the bedreck is represented by upturned layers of sandstones andj
shales of lacustrine origin. Next comes a subsoil which is very
coarse at the base, but grading upward into gravels and sands of
river erigin. The top sell, varying from a few inches to a hundred
feet, is of very fine grain, and in the main has been carried to
its present position by the persistent winds which come eut of the
mountains to the westward. The soil is leamy in character, and
varies from a fine silty leam thru coarser grades to a sandy leam.
Rarely is it composed mainly of sand, but in general it has the right
physical preperties to retain moisture with readiness. Chemically,
it is geod in iren, lime, and petash, but is lew in nitrogen."

It is also very deficient in hums, and unless the requisites
of nitrogen and humus are supplied it seen becomes unprefitadle.
Trees take on a sickly yellew color and yield constantly diminish-
ing returns, due te lack of nitrogen, while the lack of humus results
in a poor physical condition of the soil. It puddles easily and
develope a hard impervious crust thru which water penetrates with
difficulty.

Alkali in the sejl is not uncemmon. Both the black alkali
and the loas feared white alkali form incrustations aleng irrigation
furrows, and in other places from which water has dried. The
centour ef the land is such, however, that drainage is not a matter

of concern, and hence destructive deposite of alkali, such as are
(11)
commonly met with in many other irrigated districts are here seldom
found. The Valley being so narrow, with the orchard lands sleping
frem the mountains on either side down to the rivers gives ade-
quate natural drainage, and prevents the accumulation cf drainage
and seepace waters with their destrictive alkali content.

The foregoing resure of natural conditions prevailing in the
Wenatchee Valley has been emphasized because these conditions have
been important factors in the success which has attended the fruit
growing industry of the section. A naturally fertile soil, an ideal
rainless climate, an abundant and dependable irrigation supply, ani
a people unfettered by traditional customs and metheds ~- a people
anxious fer the medern scientific instructien in fruit growing which
the State has furnished them ~ these are the conditions which have
spelled success for Yenatchee in growing fruit.

How the natural advantages of this section, briefly described
above, have been utilized and exploited in fruit growing may new be
considered, and how these same advantages can most profitably be used
in the future constitutes a question of very serious moment for the

huge industry that has been built upon their foundation.

DEVELOPMENT OF THE HORTICULTURAL INDUSTRY
It has already been stated that fruit growing constitutes the
basic industry of the regien, ~ that erchards cover practically every
acre of tillable and irrigable land. A glance at the growth of this
industry thru a comparison of statistics showing the shipments of
the different fruits since the industry became well established will
be instructive. Ths fellewing tabulation presenting these statistics

is compiled from records of the District Horticultural Inspector.
(12)

CARLOAD*® SHIPKENTS OF FRUITS FROM THE WENATCHEE COUNTRY

 

 

Fruit: 1907: 1908: 1909: 1910: 1911: 1912: 1913: 1914: 1915; 1916
Apples : 616: 900: 747: 2428: 2000: 3990: 4107: 5500: : 7281
Pears : 45: 603 65: 903 235: 216: 186: 350: : 337
Peaches: 301]: 395: 2: 3413 413: 536: 421: 200: : 178
Gierries 10: 10: Ss 18: 303: 42: TW: 80: . : 93
Plums : 65: 0: 45: 35: 35: 42: 37: 80:35 : 24
Apricots 29: 45: 4: 60: 75: 121: 150: 155:8N : 85
Grapes : 3: 5: 2: : : : : $ vy 3

Berries: 12: 63 3: : : : : a

Melens ; 221: 427: 75: 46; 50: : =

 

“Minimum carload requirements ef the Gt. Northern Railway

 

 

 

Apples ---~-~-------- ~~ 630 boxes
Pearg = o-2-— nnn ww 550 “
Plums and Apricots --——- 800 crates
Cherries <- = 2000 boxes
Peaches 9 --------~--ee §=1100 "

The total shipments of apples from the State of Yashington in
1916 are given by the State Horticultural Commissioner as 16000 carloads.
Wenatchee must therefore be credited with nearly 50% of the total
apple production of the State standing llth in the list ef apple
growing states. “his means that the Wenatchee country shipped more
apples in 1916 than the entire states of Wisconsin, Maryland, New
Jersey, Vermont, Cennecticut, New Hampshire, Idaho, and 16 other
states of lesser importance in the apple industry. In reund numbers
this crep ef apples returned approximately $4,500,000.00 to the
growers of this section. Soft fruits increased the total te nearly
a millien mere.

The present magnitude ef the industry is further shown

by the accompanying statistics shewing the number of trees of
different varieties ani ages planted in thie district. The data
was cellected and published by the Wenatchee North Central Washington
Growers League. The small number of recent plantings demonstrates

the fact that the available acerage is now nearly all eccupied. The
ee eee a ——
(13)
trend ef epinien in planting is further indicated by the totals for

the different varieties at the different ages.

IRRIGATION

The Wenatchee River and its tributaries form the principal seurce
ef supply ef irrigation water. A few pumping projects are maintained
along the Columbia River and for erchards above the canals, but mest
of the erchards are belew the canals where gravity distribution is
pessible.

The develepment of the horticultural industry has been dependent
en the develepment of irrigation projects. The earliest irrigation
ditch was constructed in 1883 and is still utilized. 600 acres
additienal were brought under irrigation in 1896 by the construction
eof the Gunn Ditch. A number of ether projects have since been de-
veleped, the chief of which is known as the High Line Canal. A large
preportien ef the acerage of the Wenatchee country is watered by this
canal, and hence the completien ef this project really marked the
beginning of Yenatchee's preminence in the horticultural indastry.

This canal is taken out of the Wenatchee River near Dryden.

Most ef the orchards frem Cashmere to Reck Island, as well as many
between Dryden and Cashmere are supplied from this source. In 1916
a total ef 10581 acres were irrigated from this canal. Its total
capacity is 130 second feet at the intake, but not all the water
has thus far been used for irrigation purposes. The canal was
completed by a private company in 1903. The corporation sold
porpetual water rights ef 4 miner's inch of water per acre to land
owners at a price of $125.00 te $150.00 an acre, agreeing te fur-

nish in perpetuity this amount of water thruout the growing season,
(14)

(April 15 to October 15). The land ewner, en his part, agreed to
pay annually hie pre rata share of the expense of the upkeep of the
canal. ‘hen land is transferred to new ownership the water right
is erdinarily included in the deed. When all the water in the canal
is alletted the canal property passes frem the hands of the cor-
peration te the ownership of the land ewners, and is eperated by
them. In 1916 the High Line Canal became the property eof the
Wenatchee Reclamation District, cemposed of all the land ewners
receiving water frem the Canal. The affairs of the District are
in charge of efficers elected by the preperty owners. Practically
all of the irrigatien prejects ef the Wenatchee country are ergani zed
and manage’ on the same plan as that follewed in the case described
abeve.

A censtant measured quantity of water is delivered te each
orchard and is available fer use when desired. Practically all
of the irrigable land of the wenatchee country is now utilized.
for ercharding under the irrigation system but net mere than one
fourth ef the minimum flow of the Wenatchee River is used, hence a
water shertage is eut ef the question for a great majerity ef the
erchards. With a dependable water supply censtantly at hand the
grewer. is enabled to plan his eperations with a certainty. The
uniformity of the trees in a Wenatchee erchard, so commonly re-
marked by visitors is largely the result of this condition.

The rapidity of the growth of trees here is alse a constant
cause of surprise and question to visitors. Apple trees commonly
commence to bear at 3 years of age and at 4 years are expected te

bear a box or two, while at 5 years an orchard is considered in
(15)
cemmercial bearing, and will yield as high us 5 or 7 boxes per tree,
depending on the variety. At 10 years all varieties are mature,
and yield phenonemal crops, as high as 40 boxes rer tree being known
at this are. It is thus seen that trees are here forced into bear-
ing ani into maturity at about half the age commonly required in
the east.

The evidencs in this connection seems to indicate that the date
of bearing of fruit trees is dispender.t on their acquiring an adequate
size rather than the attainment of » particular age. This perhaps
amounts to the same thing, for a 5 year eld tree here is the equal
in size of a tree of the same variety twice ths age in the ordinary
eastern Orchard. Prime factors in the attainment of this size at
such an early date in the Wenatchee country are; (1), soils rieh in
plant food: (2), the abundance of irrigation water to make this
food available: andi (3), exceptionally faverable climatic conditions,
the abundance cf bright warm sunshine thru the leony days of the
summer season, giving mere epportunity for the elaberation of this
plant food. ( Longer days of summer are here accounted fer by the
relatively high latitude).

This forced growth could almost be compured to greenhouse
forcing of plants, for the same factors of heat, moisture, sunlight,
and rich soils apply. A seasen's terminsu] wood crovth averaging
above 4 feet is expected on young trees, and frequently double this
amcunt i3 ebtained. On mature trees an average terminal growth of

at least 2 feet is expected and easily obtained oy proper cultural

methods. This new growth might not be hardened enough to stand the
(16)
severe winters of the East, but winter injurv in the Wenatchee
ceuntry is very rare. Irrigation is not usually stopped befors
the middle of September, but as real winter weather is not exnsct-
ed for three months more, at the earliest, there is no particular
danger in actively continuing the growth of the trees te this
seoemingry late date. The degree of hardening required for the
Wenatchee winters is likewise much less than that regarded as
essential in the Fast on account of the relatively short and mild
winters experienced.

From the very first the practice of planting trees relatively
close tozeth#has prevailed. A few have plantsd even less than 18
feet apart, while others have planted as far as 36 fest apart, but
the great majority of the erchards are set with trees from 18 to 24
feet apart. Fcononically, this clese setting has been justified,
for the high cest ef orchards has made it essential that a maximum
return be obtained as early as possible. The early bearing of the
trees has maie it possible to secure some returns as early as the
Sth year. But the rapidity of the growth of the trees results in
the production of long #willowy branches which require severe head-
ing back to insure the mature tree a proper balance, and to form
st+irr branches capable of heldine up the phenonemal leads of fruit
obtained. It may be remarked, however, that this heading back is
rarely accomplished, and the cormon type of tres seen is ons with
long spindly branches vhich bend to the ground with every lead of
fruit, requiring much propping with its additional eutlay of time
and labor. The pruning practise of the wenatchee country has been

{ll advised from the very start. This fact is all the more sur-
(17)

prising because of the avidity with which other modern scientific
methods have been seized. It is perhaps accounted for by the short-
sighted policy of attempting to secure a slightly increased early
productien at the expense ef the mature tres.

Horticulturally, the close planting would not be objectionable
if the trees were thinned out at the proper time. This, however,
is rarely done. Where peaches und apples have been interplanted
the peaches have, in most cases, been removed. T“his'has not been
done, however, because it is good orcnard practise, in most cases,
but because peaches have teen unprofitable. Here again is an ex-
ample that reflects the economic pressure which has dictated the
policy of the country, and which will be more fully treated hereafter.
Where apples have been planted close they have been allowed to
grow until their branches intertwine in an almest impenetrable maze.
If the trees hud been properly headed back there would not te so
much objection to leavine them unthinned for so long, but with the
present practise there is no doubt that most of the orchards have
been sorjously impaired. “any orchards were not set on a plan that
rermits of efficient thinning out, and here the mistake vas in tho
orizjnal plan and intention, but where the orchards were set with
the idea of thinning them out at the proper time, as most of them
were, and the plan has not been followed, economic pressure hus
dictatod the policy pursued.

The ease of crowing fruit in the Wenatchee country was early
recognized, but tne distance from market and the hich cost cf trans-
portation encouraged no one to venture into the business on 4

Commercial scale until] about 1894 to 1900. At this time the older
(18)

section of Hocd River, Oregon, begen to place on the market a
standardizcd pack of apples, - an astonishment to the trade, but it
immediately found favor and a high price in the fancy fruit markets
of the east. Wenatchee possessed ali the advantaves that Hood River
lacked and immediately the boom at Wenatchee vegan. Wenatchee apples
competed successfully in ths eastern markets, and soon established
themselves under their own name insteui of masquerading as Hood River
apples, as all fancy Nerthwestern apples had been known to the trade.

Returns as hizh as £5.00 and even more per box for ths finest
fruit were reported. Nothing but tho very finest apples were shipped
out. This however, included practically tha entire crop for most
of the trees were young and produced « large percentage of large
sized fruit all beautifully colored. The crop was carefully handled,
attractively packed, ani guaranteed to be perfect and free frem all
defacts, insects and fungous diseases. It created a sensation on
the eastorn market. The novelty of apples wrapped ani pecksi like
oran72s, sizei, attractively nut up in boxes, and guaranteed to be
verfect was a thing unheard of in most places, where the barrel with
{ts jumble c’% bruised anples, all sizes, all grades or all intsrper-
tations of grais, with its interesting assortment of wormy, diseased,
and defective fruit was the rule. And the North 3t2rn apple,
particularily the Wenatchee apple lived up to its reputation ~ it
has steadfastly maintained its high stent:rd of grade and pack, and
today bears the hizhest reputation wherever the boxed apple is
known.

The Eastern apple grower has been slow to recognize the serious-

ness of this competition, but as he avakes he enviously cries,
(19)
"Beauty is enly skin desp - your apcles heave no flavori*® The Wen-
atchee grower retorts, "Beauty muy be only skin deep but most
people see the beauty before they vill taste the flavor.” And
it has been largely true. This fact has enabled the Wenutchee
grower to induce an unsuspecting public te tuv kis beautifully
colored Ren Davis in preference to a less attractive looking
Michigan Northern Spy = and more than half of the ccnsumers are
never avere cf what they are missing. “ney buy on looks. This
is all aside from the point that a Wenatchee apple dces not necessar-—
{ly need to lack flavcr, ard that a higen quality apple can Ecssibly
lose some flaver and quality thru edverse cultural conditicrs and
stj/ll remain a gocd apple. If a Sptizencurgz apple attains perfection
in the Hudson River Valley of New York it dces not necessarily
mean that a Wenatchee Epitzenburg is not a good apple.

High returns continucd to be the rule until 1912, altho during
the latter part of this pericd sif¢ns vere not lucking that e« chanze
might be expected. Apples still returned £1.50 to $2.00 a box net
to the rrover, but in 191° the crash came, and for the first time
returns ‘vere less than the cest of production, and since then *he
average return has been abcut 702 & box.

Until 1912 there hal been only slieht cempetition In the Gale
cf boxed apples, and for several years previous there had been a
depressed yield over the eastern section of the country. The bear-
ing acerage of the Northwest was not large and the market was able
to take for its fancy trade all the high grade boxed apples that
were offered. In 1912, however, a large acerage of young orchard

came into bearing, and all the older trees produced more bountifully
(20)
than ever. Local machinery for handling the crop was totally in-
adequate. An exceptionally heavy crop thruout the country demor-
alized the markets, and in consequence the Wenatchee growers met
their first severe reverse. Panic immediately ensued.

Like all boom sections, Wenatchee had been oblivious to any
possibility of failure, and was feverishly placing all its profits
in expaneion, buying more orchards, buying automobiles, wintering
at expensive California resorts, living up to its income limit = and
beyond, all too confident of the future. The shock of 1912 demor~
alized the industry, but it was only the beginning of a period of
reverses thet has ushered in the present reconstruction era, out
of which Wenatchee should emerge chastened, and with its basic in-
dustry finally established on a firm basis.

The early phenomenal returns, together with a realization of
the wonderful productive capacity of Wenatchee apple orchards
precipitated the boom in the beginning, and has been the cause of
rapid development for the country and the failure of so many people
who have been lured to it. Land prices jumped and soared tc points
seldom heard of in connection with agricultural land values. Raw
land with its sage brush and huge boulders still undisturbed sold
as high as $600.00 an acre without water right. Bearing orchards
sold as high as $4000.00 an acre, and instances are on record
where evenhigher prices were refused. Most of the orchards sold
above $1000.00 an acre, and with the high returns of early years
paid good interest on such an investment. ut there has never been
any sound basis for land valuation. Orchards were eagerly bought

at almost any price, and the constantly increasing demand, as more
JOHNSON-COX CO.. TACOMA

—- - _ - -#
"
— -_ }
—- oe _.

 

 

 
(21)
and more people were allured to the country by the fabulous tales
given out from it, inflated the values beyond all reason or account-
ing. Even at present there is no real basis for valuation, and
there cannot be until after the period of readjustment.

The system of orchard valuation employed by the Assessor of
Chelan County, which includes most of the wenatchee country, is
illustrated by the accompanying blank form used in this work. On
it are indicated the various factors taken into consideration in
arriving at the valuation, such as whether or not the land is im-
proved, the character of the soil, the water right, and the topogro-
phy, the kinds of fruit grown, and such factors as are considered
as justification for deductions, such as the necessity of pumping
water for itrigation, poor location, &c.

Using this system of valuation the following figures for 1916
were arrived at for lst class orchards in different sections of the
County, where there was let class water right, trees10 years old or

older, and where soil, topography, and varieties all graded 100%.

Place Valuation
Wenatchee and Cashmere $1080.00 per acre
Dryden and Peshastin 900.00 "* *
Entiat 880.00 " *
Malaga 720,00 " ”

Of the above amounts, one-third represents the valuation on
land and water right, and two-thirds the valuation on the trees.
The average assessed value of all irrigated orchards in Chelan
County in 1916 was $288.00 an acre, which represents 50% of their

actual value on this basis of figuring.

The following varieties are rated as lst class in these conm-

putations:- Winesap, Rome, Delicious, White Winter Pearmain, Stay-
(22)
man, Black Ben pavis, Arkansas Black, Jonathan, Spitzenburg, King
David, Yellow Newtown, Winter Banana, ani Grimes. The 2nd class
includes al] pears, and all other apples, while the 3rd class
takes in all the soft fruits except prunes, which receive a special
valuation of one-third that of 1st class apples. The 2nd class re-
ceives a valuation of 75% of that given the lst class, and the 3rd
class receives $50.00 an acre in addition to the valuation cf the
land and water right.

let class topography, consisting of land level and smooth
receives a grade of the full 30% accorded to it in the scale. 2nd
class topography, consisting of gently rolling land is graded at
15%. 8rd class topography, consisting of very rolling, but till-
able and irricable land is graded at 10%, while 4th class topography
which consists of all land too stéep and rough for cultivation is
graded at only 5%.

Sollse are likewise graded on the same scale, and lst class
soil represents land free from rock and gravel and of good depth;
2nd class soil represents land with some gravel but of good depths
2rd class soil is land very gravelly and rocky or shallow; 4th
Class soil is waste land.

lst class water rights are those provided by the best irrigation
projects, where water supply is reasonably certain, and constitutes
about 754. of all the water rights.

Deductions are made in the case of land irrigated by pumping.
For a 50 ft. lift there is a deduction of 30% from the land and
tree valuation; for a 100 ft. lift 40%; for 150 ft. 45%: for 200 -
250 ft. lift 50%.

The system employed here is perhaps the most intricate to be
(23)

found in the United States. It has grown out of the peculiar
conditions surrounding the orchard industry of the Wenatchee Valley,
and represents the results of years of effort to arrive at this data.
It is perhaps the most scientific system of lind waluation in use
anywhere. However, the basic figures are more or less arbitrary
and are subject to change. In 1914 the valuation accorded lst
class orchards at Wenatchee was $1500.00 an acre instead of $1080.00,
the reduction having been made by the Assessor after:.a realization
of the deterioration of values which is at present taking place.

After Wenatchee was embarked on its real estate boom, which has
hardly been paralleled in the history of horticulture, speculation
in land became the chief occupation of many of the people and fruit
growing became of secondary importance, being taken more or less
for granted. The more accessable and desirable lands were quickly
appropriated for use by actual settlers who cared for their orchards
personally. The high cost of the land required an outlay for a few
acres commensurate with the value of a large farm in most parts of
the country. Consequently most of the holdings were small, averaging
at Wenatchee less than 10 acres, with many from 3 to 5 acres each.
This insured thick settlement, and today the whole Wenatchee country
is very like a spread-out village, with houses only a short distance
apart. This influx ofpeople anxious to own and operate their own
places eliminated from the best parts of the Wenatchee country the
"Investment"schemes which have disgraced so many of the Northwestern
apple sections. These schemes were built around the desires of
people of smal] means to own an orchard tract. The promoters

acquifed sufficient land and divided it into smal] tracts to sell
(24)
on the installment plan - egreeing to plant and care for same
until it reached the bearing age, meanwhile the purchaser could
continue at his vocation, earning money to pay for the orchard.
Such schemes have happily not been able to flourish in Wenatchee,
where actual settlers were flocking to secure all the available
land. But unscrupulous real estate promoters, using Wenatchee's
reputation as a bait actually perpetrated many frauds in the form
of such schemes. Many of the tracts were never planted, many never
existed. Others apparently tried to be honest and fulfilled their
contracts, but their locations were of necessity remote from the
main Valley, or were located in undesirable places. OGne of the
most successful of such schemes is located at Manson, on Lake
Chelan, a section as favored in every way except in transportation
as the best at Yenatchee.

The Wenatchee people have come from every state in the Union
and from al] walks of life, but farmers were, perhaps, least
represented of all classes of settlers. A large proportion of
the newcomers were professional men and business men - lured by
the call of the soil, the wonderful climate, and the seemingly
marvelous possibilities of the Wenatchee apple game. It gave a
population largely inexperienced in fruit growing, but unprejudiced
toward the idea of learning, - an exceptionally intelligent class
of people. To such as these the influence of the State Horticultural
Inspection Service was of great benefit. The organisation of this

service is described in the attached copy of the Horticultural

Laws ofthe State of Washington.
(25)
STATE HORTICULTURAL INSPECTION SERVICE

This influence was felt in two ways, viz; the educational
work and the police work done by local inspectors. The State is
divided into several Districts with a District Inspector and a
corpse of deputies in each, all working under the direction of a
State Commissioner of Horticulture. The District in which Wenatchee
is located comprises the feur north-central Washington counties of
Chelan, Okanogan, Douglas, and Grant.

Briefly, it is the duty of these inspectors to instruct the
growers in the care of their orchards, in the control of pests and
diseases, and to assist them in any way possible in the production
ef their fruits; - also to see that all pests and diseases are
controlled in the orchards, being empowered to undertake such work
at the expense of the owner if he fails to do the work himself.
They are also charged with the duty of inspecting all incoming fruit
and nursery stock, excluding all infected or infested, and to
inspect all outgoing fruit and nursery stock, preventing the ship-
ment of all infected or infested, and, lately, to prevent the
shipment of any fruit not properly graded according to the standard
grading rules of the State.

In this capacity efficient men who have served as inspectors
in the Wenatchee country have been of immeasurable service to the
inexpert enced growers. Without their advice and help furnished
gratis upon application, Wenatchee could not possibly have made
the consistent and successful progress for which it has been noted.
Perhaps nowhere else has scientific advicebeen more consistently

adhered to. This has been because the great majority of the people
(26)
realized their lack of knowledge and experience, and, being most
anxious to achieve the highest success, applied for the best advice
and adopted it.

This condition also gave rise to a new profession, that of
“Consulting Horticulturist”, which has been variously used and
misused. Some able horticulturists have engaged in this work,
charging for their advice or superintendence of orchard properties.
Others, without adequate qualifications, seeing the possibilities
for financial gain in this work, have mulcted many a grower for
questionable service.

Another influence of the State Horticultural Inspection Ser-
vice is found in its police work. It has been made impossible,
by enforcing a stringent law on this subject, for growers to neglect
their orchards and stil] make a living. Fortunately for Wenatchee
the catalog of pests and diseases which prevail here is a short one.

Practically the only pests. of importance are the San Jose scale
and the codling moth, and only the latter is at all widespread.

Fire blight has been rigidly controlled and never has secured a
firm foothold. Whenever it has shown itself it has been eradicated
at once, infected trees being réthlessly destroyed or cut back be-
yond the points of infection. Blight has been the particular foe
of the industry most carefully watched by the inspectors. The
disease has been so thoroly advertised, and the examples of less
fortunate districts, damaged or eliminated as fruit centers because
of blight, have been so constantly before the minds of the growers
here that all are on the watch for it, and most anxious to cooper-

ate with the inspectors to protect their high priced investments.
(27)
If a man does not report his infection his neighbors do, and willy
nilly the inspector uses his ax, and patrols the neighborhood until
he is sure the disease has been eliminated.

San Jose scele is also dealt with severely. In case a grower
fails to eradicate the pest the inspector will, after proper warn-
ing, see that the orchard is efficiently sprayed °r is chopped down.
San Jose scale still exists in the Wenatchee country but it is
rigidlg controlled.

Codling moth is the worst pest the Wenatchee grower has to
fight. There are always two broods and often a part of three.

Due to the difference in elevation of different sections the proper
spraying date varies. It is here that the help of the inspector

{s again invaluable. He maintains breeding cages in such sections
that he can advise any grower as to the proper date for spraying, -
information most of the growers would otherwise not be able to obtain.
Growers usual}y spray very thoroly for codling moth —- since wormy
apples are unmarketable, but since the period of low returns there
has been a marked tendency to slight this work, resulting in much
loss. This culminated in 1915, when many orchards yielded from

25% to 50 1 wormy fruit, while properly sprayed orchards alongside
yielded crops 95% to 98%. sound, the proportion usually sought for.

There exist other rests such as the peach twig borer, the
salmon fly, which destroys blossoms of apricots and peaches, woolly
aphis, rosy aphis, and green aphis, but none of them can be classed
as of major importance, and all ere successfully dealt with.

Collar rot of apple trees is assuming serious proportions, and

as yet no satisfactory method of prevention has been found. Wher
(28)
discovered in time trees are Often saved by cleaning out and dis-
infecting the injured areas, or by bridge grafting, but more often
the disease has progressed too far before the grower is aware of
its presence.

Apple and peach mildew have at times assumed epidemic proportions
but do not appear to have become endemic. Apple mildew yields to
treatment with sulphur sprays but their use during the hot summer
months of this climate is attended with severe risk of fruit injury.

Apple scab and other fungous diseases common to most fruit
sections are unknown and probably will never prevail in the Wenatchee
country because of its arid climate. The comparative freedom of
this region from insect pests and fungous diseases constitutes one
of its superior advantages as a fruit growing section. The maintain-
ence of this advantage is insured by the State thru its Horticultural
Inspection Service, which is always on guard against the introduction
of new pests and which is constantly fighting those already estab-
lished.

A further healthy stimulus to the industry is afforded by the
inspection service in the inspection of fruit shipments. No diseased
fruit and no fruit infested with any insect is allowed to be shipped.
The inspection of a crop of the magnitude now produced by Wenatchee
involves a herculean task and an efficient organization. How well
this is accomplished is evidenced by the high reputation borne by

Wenatchee fruit and pack in the trade circles.
(28)
GROWERS' COOPERATIVE ASSOCIATIONS

This reputation would not, however, be possible without the
hearty cooperation of the shipping organizations which market the
fruit. They are constantly in touch with the trade and realize to
the full what the high standard product so far maintained means to
Wenatchee. They have often had far more stringent grading rules
than those provided by the State and most of them have ererted a
restraining influence on the inclination of growers to market low
grade fruit. Recent laxity in cultural methods has resulted in an
abnormal amount of poor fruit being thrown on the market. The
results were so highly disastrous that there is now evidence that
Wenatchee is returning more firmly than ever to the idea that her
greatest success is dependent in the maintainence of a strictly
high grade product.

To these growers' cooperative associations is due the develop-
ment of the art of packing apples and other fruits in the attractive
manner they are now found on the markets. They have also been active
in disseminating the best information obtainable in regard to
cultural methods and general orchard practices, always endeavoring
to have their growers produce the highest percentage of extra fancy
fruit.

Naturally however, their chief function has been the marketing
cf the orchard product. In the early years there was but one co-
operative organi sation handling any considerable tonnage. This
was the Wenatchee Valley Fruit Growers Association, a strictly
cooperative growers' organization, whick has lately been succeeded

by the Yenatchee Northern Warehouse and Marketing Co., a private
(30)
corporation operating on a cash basis. The old Wenatchee Valley
Fruit Growers Association had but one competing concern of prominence,
the Wenatchee Produce Co., which operated on a brokerage and comnission
basis. With the growth of the industry, however, other organ! zations
have entered the field until in 1916 they numbered a score or more.

These concerns do a general warehouse and marketing business,
pooling the crops of all their patrons. It has been noted that
most of the orchards are of small acerage, anid each has several or,
too often, many varieties of apples, so that from many varieties a
grower could not secure tonnage enough to ship in carload lots,
which is a necessary consideration due to the location of Wenatchee
at such a distance from the great markets.

It is generally recognised in the wenatchee country that the
marketing of the fruit is a business in itself, and is beyond the
province of the grower - hence the field of ths shipping agency or
cooperative associations which warehouse, load, ship, and sell the
fruit for a certain fixed charge, usually 10¢ a box. By the enforce-
ment of standard grading rules they are enabled to pool the fruit
from a number of growers without danger of injustice to any, and en-
abled, furthermore, to have a working basis for the sale of the
fruit in carload lots.

They maintain sales agencies all over the country and in
foreign markets. They not only market his fruit for the grower, but
also buy for him such supplies as boxes, paper. nails, and spray
materials. By purchasing in large quantities they are enabled to
get the minimum price and the grower has the benefit for they add

merely the cost of handling. They also act as bankers, loaning
(31)
the grower a certain specified amount to handle his crop. The usual
advance id at the rate of 50¢ a box on the estimated yield.

The marketing agencies have had an important role in the
development of the fruit industry of the Wenatchee Valley,-their
function has been indispensable. Until 1912 their service was
satisfactory, the bulk of the business being done on a cash basis
FOB Wenatchee. But in 1912 the markets were demoralized. Kastern
markets were flooded, and there was no adequate machinery in the
Wenatchee country to handle the immense crop. Returns were far
below the cost of production. Growers blamed the shipping agencies,
rancor was stirred up, many growers pulled away from old affiliations
and new concerns were formed. Since then the marketing situation
has steadily become more complicated. Growers have gone from one
organization to another, from one plan of marketing to another,
never holding together long enough in any one organization nor
combining enough tonnage at any time to give it a chance to demon-
strate its capacities. They have constantly grown more suspicious
of all agencies and more disrupted among themselves.

In 1916 the growers formed a large organization which was
pledged to sell for cash Only. They look with disfavor on all
agencies which do not deal on this basis. The panic which followed
the marketing of the 1912 crop is primarily responsible for this
condition. The selling organizations lost no money thru that deal
for their charge of 10¢ a box was fixed, regardless of the return
to the grower. Taking advantage of the state of mind of the growers
at this time new organizations were able to enter the field and

compete for tonnage and a share in the sure profits of the market-
(32)

ing business. Many of these were organized by growers to save this
cost but these compete as sharply as any. The tonnage was divided,
the handling and sales machinery were duplicated in each concern,
and the sare markets invaded with attendent price cutting and loss
to the grower all around.

The marketing agency which in early years formed so necessary
a cog in the machinery of development of the fruit industry has
become a source of friction that demoralizes the business. The
idea that cooperation among fruit growers of the Northwest has
been ideally perfected is entirely erroneous. A measure of cooper-
ation is absolutely essential in order to get the fruit from the
small orchards onto the market, out the cooperation which has ex~
isted for this purpose in recent years has not gone much further <~
certainly it has not, in most instances, worked for the maximum
financial benefit of the growers. That this is being recognized
and that the necessity of a change is realized by the shippers is
shown by the number of concerns which have recently begun to operate
on a cash basis. On his part, the grower has reached the point
where he is quite willing to let the other fellow speculate with the
fruit and is satisfied with a price sufficient to yield a reasonable
profit. He is no longer out to make a “killing™ - he is now most
anxious to make a living. As long as this attitude is maintained
the situation should improve. The intricacies of the marketing
situation cannot be gone into further within the limits of the

present discussion, for in themselves, they present a separate and

major problem.
(33)
PRESENT STATUS OF THE INDUSTRY

The recent demoralisation of the fruit growing business cannot
be said to have undermined the industry or in any way threatened its
prominence in the Wenatchee country. It has rather seemed to emphasi ze
the fact that fruit growing is firmly established as the leading
industry of the section and that it aust be readjusted to insure
stability in the face of adverse conditions. There is no idea of
supplanting the orchards with other agricultural crops. It is real-
ized that no other crops so lend themselves to specialization on
high priced land as do fruits. So instead of resulting in the failure
of the industry the recent panic has merely pointed out the glaring
defects which have developed and changes essenta@l to be made. Under
the old system profits were possible only under favorable market
conditions and lack of competition. The fruit growing industry mst
now undergo reorganization and readjustment so that it will be stable
under ordinary market conditions and in the face of stern competition.

The foundation of the horticultural indastry is unquestionably
the growing of apples. Reasons for this are plain. The apple is
more of a staple than any of the other deciduous fruits. It lends
itself to long distance shipment and to long periods of storage.
It is therefore the fruit which best meets the conditions imposed
by Yenatchee's geographic location at a great distance from the
principal fruit markets. Another factor which has already been
brought out is that Wenatchee can produce this fruit in perfection.
The cool nights and hot days, with abundant sunshine puts a finish
and a color on the apples not found on those grown outside the

Northwest. The peculiar advantages of soil, irrigation, and climate
(34)
produces a higher percentage of large sized apples than is found in
Eastern fruit. All these conditions unite to create a demand for
the Wenatchee product and make the apple the most desirable fruit
for Wenatchee to grow.

Soft fruit fillers, particularily peaches, which have not made
a profitable return, are being removed in large numbers and attention
is concentrated on apple growing.

That Wenatchee is unquestionably the premier apple growing
district of the Northwest is evidenced by a comparison of the per
cent of different grades of representative varieties shipped from
the various districts. In 1914 the North Pacific Fruit Distributors
reported euch data. This concern shipped fruit from all the different
districts of the Northvest and enforced uniform grading rules. Their
records should, therefore, be reliable. The data shows that Wenatchee
leads all the other districts in the shipment of extra fancy apples
of a majority of the stundard varieties of the Northwest.

With such a record Wenatchee is surely entitled tc its boasted
prominence as an apple growing section and is surely justified in
concentrating attention on this phase of fruit growing. With this
proof of its adaptibility to high grade apple production there is
little chance for argument over the question as to whether Wenatchee
should continue to grow apples. If the Northwestern apple business
is overdone it is plain that retrenchment should not begin in Wenat-

chee but in those districts which cannot produce as good apples.
(34a)

The superiority of Wenatcheo os an apple producing secticn is
further eviderced in a compariscern of the cost of producing apples in
Wenatchee with like costs {jn Hood Piver Valley, Oregon, and the West~
ern Colorado districts (Grand Valley), which ure, perhars, more widely
known and gencrally regarded as having an estublished apple-crowing
industry. It is not intended tc enter into a detailed discussion of
the matter of costs at this point, tut for the purpose of emphasizing
the advantages of Wenatchee over other districts reference is here
made to reports of the U. S&S. Pepuartnent of Agriculture, which has made

a careful survey of the cost of apple production in these districtsa.4

ntti inti, Ge. > -- Qu Se. Se Gh. Gr edie aan i, Gin De Be Be Di i,

Miller, G. H. and Thompson, S. M. The Cost of Producing Aprles in
Wenatchee Valley, Washington. Bull. 446. U. S. Dept. Agri.

Ttid. Tne Cost cf Preducing Applies in Western Colorade. Bull. 500.
U. S. Dept. Agri.

Ibid. The Cost of Producing Apples in Hood River Valley. Bull. £18.

U. S. Dept. Agri. o_o ene ne eween en eennen aw evens tate tnto. ttm —e o_o ee _—

It was found that the averase investmert per ecre of bearing

 

apple orchar? in the different districts was:

 

Western Colorade ------------ g 708.51
Hood Rivor Valley q----------< 990.74
Wenatchee Valley ahaeeaiat - .1925.00

Tne avernce cost of production, including ef interest on investment

Was:
Western Colorade ----=- §0.844 per box ----- $239.79 per acre
Hood River Valley----- 1.02 * %  ewem 8926.96 * "
Wenatchee Valley e---- 0.792 "” me 469.72 ” “

The Jndividual items entering inte the eteve costs, - labor,
materials, and fixed costs, are all higher at Wenatchee, but despite
this fact the cost of producing a box cf apples is least in Wenatchee.
This advantage {8s brought about by higher yields which offset the higher
per acre cests in Wenatchee. The average yield per acre in boxes fcr

the different districts is reported as follows:

Western Coloradg w~«-----~-—8--— 284 boxes
Food River Valley ------- weeee 222 "

Wenatchee Valley awenwe- 592 ”

 
(35)

The problems confronting the Wenatchee country today may be
grouped under three heads, orchard problems, marketing problems,
and economic problems. They are all related and have intimate
bearing on the present status of the horticultural industry. The
manner in which they are met and solved will, in large measure,
determine the rapidity with which Wenatchee emerges from its period

of readjustment to a sound and stable economic basis.

ORCHARD PROBLEMS

The orchard problems are all connected with the ordinary
orchard practises. That these problems are impor+.n*+ and significant
is indicated by tha fncccusics umount of cull] apples produced by
the district, all traceable to a gradually increasing inattention
to the painstaking care which characterized the early handling of
orchards in Wenatchee. In the annual report of the District Horti~
cultural Inspector for 1908 i: is estimated that less than 2%. of
the total crop of apples could be classes as culls, but the report
for 1916 estimates *hs culls ani windfaiis at 25%. Part of this
increase is accounted for by a destructive windstorm which swept
the upper Valley in August, but the major portion must be attributed
to wormy fruit, undersized fruit, sunburned fruit, all due to
conditions more or less unier the control of the growers.

The growth of a more careless attitude has already been traced
to the discouragement following the advent of low returns, = to the
disinclination of the growers to freely risk money in costly orchard
operations when commensurate feturns seemed questionable. Tt must

not be deduced from this statement that the orchards have been
(36)

neglected, as the term is commonly applied in most parts of the
country. As a matter of fact orchard conditions compare very
favorably with commercial orchard practises everywhere, and, judged
by the same standards Wenatchee orchards would doubtloss average a
very much higher percent of marketable fruit than Eastern orchards,
but due to superior location with reference to markets the average
Eastern orchardist has a source of income in his “culls” that is
denied to the Wenatchee grower. What is meant is simply that
Wenatchee has retrograded from ite former high standard of orcharding.

Spraying practises have been slighted, thoroness and consistency
in fighting codling moth has been sacrificed thru questionable
attempt to meet economic pressure. Growers who in years past
have offered to pay a dollar a worm for all found in their apples -
and never had to pay a cent, now find themeelvos with 5% to 15%
and even a higher percentage of wormy apples. Lessened attention
to detail caused: by worry over impending financial ruin is largely
responsible. With only the codling moth to confront as an enemy
of prime importance the present attitude is hardly excusable.

Pruning likewise has been neglected. The common fault in the
pruning of young trees which does not inaure a good framework has
already been noted, and has prevailed from the beginning. In
pruning mature trees, however, there has in rocent years, developed
a tendency toward neglect to which much of the present loss can be
traced.

The thick planting of trees and the lack of heading back has
produced a keen competition among the trees for food and sunshine.

Branches intertwine and shoot up into the air - carrying much of
 

 
(37)
the bearing surface beyond the reach of the sprayer. The intertwin-
ing branches obstruct the spray machine and make the use of a tower
impossible. This condition has made effective spraying practically
impossible in a large number of orchards.

The dense growth has cut off sunlight and given a higher
per cent of undercolored fruit, and hence less profitable fruit.
The trees, lacking the stimulus of pruning and growing older, pro-
duce smaller sized fruit - fruit likewise less profitable.

Another factor involved in the production of small sized fruit
is the neglect of proper thinning. Those growers who have adhered
to the original scheme of moderately heavy annual thinning have
insured themselves constantly j{ncreasing crops of uniform good size
and quality, while growers who no longer thin admit the unevenness
of their crops, and the preponderence of smaller sizes.

The problem involved in cultivation practices may briefly be
stated as “too much clean cultivation". Wenatchee orchards need
permanent cover crops and not clean cultivation. It may be stated
that in this connection general practice has progressed and not
retrograded. That this has been in line with the least effort on
the part of the grower by involving a minimum of labor and expense,
ia not to be doubted but ite value is not thereby affected.

In the early history of orcharding in the Wenatchee country a
fetish was made of clean cultivation. The soil was constantly work-
ed and not a weed or blade of grass was allowed to show itself.
Persistent stools of alfalfa were industriously atiacke’ vith a
mattock, andi the man who kept his orchard best tilled was consider-

ed to have the best place. Growers who allowed alfalfa to grow
(38)
among their trees to provide the forage for stock which others
shipped in were regarded as lazy and hardly a credit to the comaunity.
Real estate dealers avoided such places in showing prospective
settlers over the country. After a time, however, it was noticed
that the orchards under clean cultivation began to have less
regular bearing habits. The foliage took on a yellowish, sickly
color, = the sojl became more difficult to cultivate, being hard and
cloddy, and it was impossible to irrigate properly. The water would
not penetrate, and “hard-pan” was often spoken of. Subsoiling and
dyn@aiting afforded only temporary relief. The orchar’s ir alfalfa,
on the other hand, continued to bear regular crops and retained
their vegetative vigor, while the soil unmistakeably improved its
physical condition. It was observed that these orchards, far from
requiring more water supply, really took less than those under clean
cultivation. It besame evident that in growing alfalfa in his
orchard a grower was farming two farms - one. below the other, for
the alfalfa roots penetrate much deeper than the apple roots and
compete little if any with the trees for either food or water. The
old roots decay and open up channels for irrigation water to follow,
as well as furnish the humus and nitrogen so sorely needed by all
these arid soils. The alfalfa stabble also serves as a trap and
catches all the leaves from the trees as a further contribution to
the humus content of the soil. It became known that the best method
of treating alfalfa is to cultivate it thoroly in the spring before
growth starts. After an alfalfa plantation is established it may
be disc~harrowed almost as thoroly as an unplanted field, and the

alfalfa thrives better. This early harrowing incorporates the
(39)

leaves with the soil and consequently it 1s yearly improved. The
general practice is to remove two crops of hay and leave the third
as a mulch. In this way forage is provided and more stock can be
kept ,adding another source of income to the orchard, as well as
insuring against soil depletion.

Alfalfa is preferred as a cover crop because of its value as
a forage crop and its persistence after seeding as well as because
of ite deep feeding habits. Other leguminous cover crops such as
vetch and red clover feed in the same area as the tree roots and
compete. Orchards so treated suffer all the effects noted against
the practice of sowing grain in eastern orchards. It i: estimated
that fully 75% of the orchards in the Wenatchee country are now in
permanent cover crops, while cf this number practically 754. are in
alfalfa.

In his harvesting operations the Nenatchee grower meets
practically the only condition not under his own control. He
must depend for labor on help secured outside the district. Here-
tofore the expert packing has all been done by local residents -
young men and women of the Valley. But with the enormous increase
in the amount of fruit to be packed has come the necessity for en-
ploying outside help. This has been supplied by professional fruit
packers who go up and down the Pacific Coast packing oranges,
canteloppes, and apples. As a rule they are not as careful or
reliable as the Wenatchee packer, altho probably more swift. Scarcity
of packers has constantly raised the price of packing until many
of the packers are able to make from $7.00 to $8.00 a day. Other

help for picking, sorting, and handling the fruit is likewise scarce
(40)
ani commands good wages, from $3.00 to ¢3,50 a day. Itinerant help
is depended upon here, men from the Coast cities, attracted by
the high wages and the chance for pleasant out of door employment.
But recently have come all too many of that class known as the I.W.W.
They are utterly unreliable and inefficient, interested chiefly in
stirring up trouble. They frequently organize strikes among the
workers, indulging in Intimidation and terrorism to gain their points,
which having been won are discarded for new demands. Coping with
the I.V.Wr does not lessen the worry of the Wenatchee grower at
harvest time.

Labor scarcity has been one of the main influences behind the
recent establishment of central packing plants, where the work of
packing is done cooperatively at a maximur of efficiency and a-
minimum of expense. The grower is thereby enabled to turn the
efforts of himself and his family wholly to the picking of the fruit.
He contracts for the hauling of the fruit to the packing plant and
for the packing of the same. Usually the packing plant is operated
by the selling agency, so a minimum of handling is necessary. But
groups of growers, conveniently located, often organize a cooperative
central packing plant and it seems that this plan must eventually
find favor with all growers as it certainly is in line with any
movement looking toward greatest efficiency. Few orchards have
enough apples to justify the purchase of a grading machine and the
other ingenious handling machinery employed in a central packing
plant, and consequently orchard packing cannot be done as cheaply
as in the central plant. Likewise there are few orchards equipped

with the storage space to handle even a small percent of the crop,
(41)
consequently it must be removed almost as soon as taken from the trees.
Usually there is not to exceed six weeks time in which to do this
without danger from frosts, and this causes great congestion of
work at harvest time and adds a very forceful reason for the efficient

central packing plant.

MARKETING PROBLEMS

The marketing problems have veen covered in a general way in
the discussion of the recent period of depression following the
failure to market the crop of 1912 successfully. There are, however,
involved in the marketing problem several other factors which affect
the present economic situation.

The lack of adequaté storage facilities in the producing terri -
tory is one of the most important. In the whole Wenatchee district
there are but two cold storage plants with a combined capacity of
175 cardoads of apples. Most of the shipping warehouses are of
frost-prceof construction, and they, togeth*wi th the meagre home
storage facilities of the growers can handle approximately 2500
carloads in aidition. This provides for only a minor portion of
the crop, and necessitates the rapid movement of fruit out of the
district during the harvesting season. This calls for a supply of
refrigerator cars which the rail-road has thus far not been able to
furnish. The Wenatchee country is served by only the Great Northern
Rablway, and it has about 4000 refrigerator cars. Very few of the
cars loaded for distant points can make more than one trip a season,
and the rail-road is not always able to secure sufficient cars from
other lings to avoid a car shortage. Great congestion therefore

usually results at the shipping points, and if this should come
(42)

at a time, as in 1916, when cold wéather starts, severe losses
resalt that might be avoided if adequate storage spuce were available.

Adequate storage space within the Wenatchee country would
aiso obviate the necessity of shipping to distant pointe for this
service before marketing, and would make possible a more efficient
marketing service, involving less costly handling and greater returns.
In years past apples which have been shipped and held in storage at
distant points have, at times, sold for less than the accrued
charges, whereas, if stored at home, transportation costs and some
handling expense could have been avoided at a considsrable saving
to the grower.

Tie Wenatchee grower can never find himsel? as favored for
the transportation o* his product as his Eastern competitor. The
City of Wenatchee is located on the main line of the Great Northern
Railway, 1611 miles from St. Paul and 2042 miles from Chicago, thru
which points the bulk of the fruit moves to consumption. A re-
duction in freight rates may possibly we looked for but in view of
recent increases in costs for the railroads it is hardly to be
expected. In any event it is always going to cost a great deal more
to transport Wenatchee fruit to market than that grown in the great
fruit districts of the East. It is a handicap which cannot be
changed by the Wenatchee grower, and which must be met thru advantagos
in other directions if he is to survive in business. At present it
costs 50¢ a box for transportation of apples from Wenatchee to
Eastern markets with additional charges for refrigeration which
brings the total cost of delivering a bushel of Wenatchee apples to

points east of the Mississippi River from 60¢ to 65g. The average
(42)
Eastern grower can transport at least twice the amount of fruit to
the same market for the same coset. Express shipments take the bulk
of Wenatchee's soft fruits, the rate being 4/¢ a pound toany point
east of the Mississippi, except exclusive offices of the Southern
Express Co., which does not concur in this flat rate. The differ-
ential in this type of shipment still holds in favor cf the Eastern
shipper.

It was thought that the opening of the Panama Canal would
offer some relief from the high costs of transportation, but the
advent of the European war and the consequent removal of most of
the shipping from the Pacific has prevented an adequate test in
this respect. However, it is not likely that much relief can be
expected from this source. Considerable saving might be expected
if fruit could be efficiently handled by this route, but this is
not the case. The greater length of time required over this route
compared with the rail route precludes its use except for apples.
To handle any considerable portion of the Wenatchee apple crop as
well as that of the other Northwestern districts, which in all
totals somewhere between 15,000 and 20 ,000 carloads, would require
a greater number of ships to operate thru the limited aprle shipping
season than the traffic thruout the remainder of the year would
warrént. This might not be a serious difficulty if ordinary boat
facilities only were required, but efficient refrigeration is
absolutely essential, and is equipzment not ordinarily available -
and which it would not be profitable to install merely for temporary

Uus@e

The same trouble is met in a degree in the annual refrigerator
(44)
car shortage. Refrigerator cars are expensive equip ment, and are
idle a good share of the year. It is unreasonable to expect the
rail-road to provide itself with more than the minimum number required.
Shippers, therefore, must cooperate to the fullest extent with the
raileroads. Aside from the building of adequate storage facilities,
the utilization of ventilated box cars for early shipments would
conserve the refrigerators until such time as danger of freezing is
met thru the Rocky Mountains and the Great Plains region, and
obviate in great measure the danger of car shortage.

Competition in marketing is not confined to the competition
between the local agencies previously descriwed. This is perhaps
the most harmful competition which must be contended with, but there
ia also competition with other Northwestern districts, and with
other fruit districts of the country. The boxed apple business is
no longer confined to the Northwest, for the Eastern grower has
taken a lesson from the early success of his Northwestern competitor
and is now making an effort to secure a share of the fancy apple
trade. In isolated instances some pastern growers successfully
compete, and even secure higher returns for certain high grate
apples in restricted markets. But it is unlikely that this competition
in extra fancy apples will ever assume proportions to seriously
affect the Northwestern grower, since the conditions which have
forced him to put out his high grade product can never be expected
to generally prevail in the Fast. In the past the East has produced
the apples for the masses, while the Northwest has furnished them
for the classes. The rapidly increasing production in the North-

west is overcrowding the fancy trade, and more and more of this
(45)

product must compete with Eastern fruit in cheaper markets. This
certainly involves un economic handicap for the Wenatchee product,
with its high cost of producti on,/ni gh transportation charges, and
must induce economies thruout the industry. At the same time it is
likely that the better looking Wenatchee product will] sell better
and the competition will induce better grading and packing practices
in Eastern districts. If this should prove true consumers may
eventually benefit, by receiving a better apple, more attractively
presented than now can be generally procured.

Competition between districts of the Northwest is very keen.
Many of the marketing agencies cover all the districts and sell the
fruit in the same markets. This competition would not be so serious
if each district would restrict itself to the production of only
those fruits or varieties which are best adapted to the particular
conditions prevailing there, but this is a utopian condition not
to be expected.

The entire marketing problem could, perhaps, best be solved
by the organization of all the fruit marketing interests of the
Northwest in a plan patterned after the California Fruit Growers
Exchange. If the bulk of the fancy apple tonnage out of the North-
west were controlled as in the case of the California citrus output,
markets could be stimulated and protected in a way that is impossible
under present conditions. Past attempts at such coordination of
effort have all failed, but it is not unlikely that the eventual
solution of the marketing problems of the Northwest will be found
in this direction.

At present the cash buyer is always at hand when apples are
(46)
not plentiful, but he is absent when large crops are found in the
Bast. When growers can sell for cash FOB Wenatchee, they can
dispose of their fruit quickly and they are prosperous, but when
they have to depend on a marketing agency to ship and sell in
distant markets the pools are often not closed until the next aid~
summer and, while advances are usually made, the grower is often hard
up, and his returns are usually questionable. Some years he makes
money ~- other ycars he loses, and as has proved to be the case in
Wenatchee, he just about keeps even with the game. Successful
years in recent times have merely piven opportunity to compensate
for the unprofitable seasons, and few have been able to get much
ahead. It fe plain that a more rational system of marketing gust
be evolved before the industry settles upon a firm and stable basis.
At present the marketing situation is perhaps more disorgani zed
than at any time in the history of Wenatchee. The earlier cooper-

ation seems to have entirely broken down.

ECONOMIC PROBLEMS

Closely related to the orchard and marketing problems are the
various economic problems besetting the country. The chief of
these is the high cost of production.

This is influenced primarily by the high overhead expenses
connected with each orchard. Most of the places are capitalized at
far more than their present producing capacity would warrent.
Growers are no longer assurred of interest on an investment of
1000.00 to $3000.00 an acre, and consequently land values are
shrinking down more nearly to a rational level. This shrinkage

of capital must go on until this level is reached. It is likely that
(47)
a large percent of the present owners will be forced out in the
process for few are fortified against the losses involved. It is
stated on reliable authority that 80% of the orchards of the
Wenatchee country were mortgaged in 1915, and that 20% of this
number also had a second mortgage obligation. Interest rates on
mortgages are never below 8%, and more often are 10% and 12%.
A large majority of the owners have been unable to keep up interest
payments at these rates in recent years, much less to reduce the
principal indebtedness. Most of them have considered themselves
lucky if they broke even on the orchard and harvesting costs and
made a living. Many growers have already been forced out and the
property has reverted to the mortgagee. It seems that this process
mist go on until a point is reached where the capital is no longer
watered, and where growers can maintain their liabilities.

The orchard costs, aside from the high overhead expense are
likewise high, and must be reduced in order to successfully meet
the competition which is lowering the returns on Wenatchee fruit.

A detailed study of the cost of producing apples in the

Wenatchee Vallev vas made in 1914 by Miller and Thompsont of the

 

1*The Cost Of Producing Apples in the Wenatchee Valley, Washington.”
G. H. Miller and S. M. Thompson. U. S. Department of Agriculture
Bulletin 446.

Office of Farm Management, U. S. Department of Agriculture. Their
results, secured from a detailed survey of 87 orchards between
Wenatchee and cashmere show an average cost of $.7921 per box in

Clean cultivated orchards ani a reduction of about .02 per box
(48)

in orchards with alfalfa or clover cover crops. These figures
represent the results of the most careful and detailed investigation
of the subject ever made, and may, therefore, be taken as approximately
correct.

The survey above mentioned contains a complete analysis of
the cost of apple production in this region, and in this connection
it will be of interest to quote several tabulaticne showing how
the cost of production is distributed.

Summary of Cost of Production

 

           

 

Items of cost $ Total cost : £of total
s Per acre 3; Per box : Per tree ; cost

Labor e $1 : s $2.21] : 38.13

Material ¢ 103.71 : 01749 : 1.280 s 22.08

Fixed cost ¢ 186.93 : 03152 2-308 s. 39.79

— Total : 469.73 : .792) 3; 5.799 =: 100.00

 

How these several items of cost are made up is shown by the
following tabulations.

Fixed Costs

 

 

tem : Cost per Acre : Cost per Box

Taxes 3 $13,008 : ¥0.0221
Water tax (maintainence fee) : 1.69 : .0028
Insurance : 96 : ~0016
Interest on investment : 154.00 ; 2597
Equipment charge : 10.42 : 0176
Packing house building charge 3 6.78 . .0114

Total 3 186.93 ° ©3152

 

Material Costs

 

 

Item : Cost per Acre s Cost per Box

Box shooks : $62.27 ¢ $¢0.1050

Nails : 1.48 : ~0025

paper : 16.82 $ 0284

Labels : 5.93 : «0100

Lime sulphur solution : 8.41 : 00142

Lead arsenate : 4.74 : »0080

Manure : 3.46 : ~0058

Gasoline and oil 3 «60 3 ~0010
TOtal : 103.71 : 21749

 

 
(49)
Labor Costs

Item
Labor before harvest

Cost per acresCost per box;Cost per tree

 

 

 

 

(clean cultivation) $72.64 0.1225 =: 40.8968
Labor before harvest (alfalfa) 60.99 t .1028 «7406
Harvesting labor 106.45 3 21795 3 1.3140
Total labor, (clean cultivation) 179.09 $ 03020 se 26211
Total labor, (alfalfa) > 167.44 2 2823 3: 2.067

The above figures are based upon the following:

Average investment per orchard <--- meee nm ~w= $20,974.00
Average investment per acre waa wwoemenems 2,026.00

Average size of orchard, 11.4 acres
Average size of apple orchard, 6.5 acres
Average value per acre of bearing apple orchard —--~--—= § 1,925.00
Average yield per acre, apples, 593 boxes
Average yield per tree, apples, 7.3 boxes

In u consideration of the above it will be noted that the
fixed costs are given as approximately 40%, of the total cost of
production, represented largely by interest on the investment,
which amounts to 33% of the total. That it must be lowered has
already been shown, and it is further indicated by the fact that
the costs of materials and labor must inevitably tend upward in
the face of present economic conditions thruout the country.
Competition and other factors are at the same time lowering the
returns to the Wenatchee orchardist so that the principal way the
pressure can be met is in the lowering of the fixed charges as
already indicated. Savings may be made, and must be made wherever
possible in labor and materials, but sugh savings can not alone
suffice. Labor can be saved by generally adopting the central
packing plant system and by bringing more of the acerage under alfalfa
cover crop. Materials can be saved by marketing low frade fruit

unwrapped and in less expensive containers. It does not seem un-

reasonable to expect that the cost of production may be lowered
(50)
eventaally by at least 20%. Such a saving in the recent past
would have spelled the difference between failure and success for
many of the Wenatchee growers.

The Wenatchee country is essentially a one crop country both
because of the limited acerage available and the high cost of the
land. It has depended on the outaide for stock feed, dairy products,
vegetables, and meats. In the early years a cow was seldom seen
on any of the ranches, and hundreds of gallons of milk were brought
in daily for sale in the towns, while condensed milk was generally
used in the homes of the ranchers. Butter, likewise, was shipped
in, also practically all the meats. Vegetables were grown in
limited quantity but the supply was never certain and grocers were
forced to ship in great quantities of both fresh and canned vegetables
to sell to the farmers as well as the townspeople. Happily, this
unhealthy economic condition is passing and Wenatchee is now more
nearly self-supporting. Now, with such @ large per cent of the
orchards in alfalfa nearly every farmer produces enough forage not
only for his horses but for a cow or two besides, and in many cases
a few hogs are also kept. There is comparatively little fresh milk
shipped into the Valley and the use of condensed milk has largely
decreased. Butter is still imported but not in such amounts as
formerly. The home supply of meate is increased but probably can
never be expected to be adequate under the intensive orchard conditions
prevailing.

Vegetable gardening hes become established as an important
eide-line on many ranches and, in season, Wenatchee does not depend

on cther sections for this clase of food. This development has
(51)
been in the right direction and has been, perhaps, as important as
uny one thing in placing Wenatchee on a sounder economic basis, but
the period of readjustment is far from terminated. How long it will
endure depends on cenditions. Occasional seasons of profit will
but prolong the steps which remain to the final level of stability,
when the industry may be considered upon a sound econonic basis
and when engaging in that industry wil] not be a gamble but become
a cusiness,

The principal facts in the development of the industry have
been reviewed above, together with some of the causes which have
seemed to influence the economic organization of the same. The
text has perhaps, inferred suggestions for @ more prefitable
organization of the business, with a better correlation of its
various parts, but it may be well tc gather together at this polnt

euch specific factors as seem to have an influence in this ccnnecticn.

SUGGESTIONS FOR SHE PROFITAELE ORGANIZATION OF THE INDUSTRY
With the revaluation of the orchards which must eventually
take place two acres may perhaps be bought for the present price
of one, - two orchards may be combined in one. Im any event the
smal] holdings must be eliminated. They are based on a fundamentel-
ly wrong idea of business. The small aprle orchard may be compared
with the small retail store or the small factory. They depend on
& small turaover at a large percent profit. With the curtailment
of profite(whick has already come in the apple business) the
emall establishment is forced cut in favor of the large concern

which depends on a large turnover at a amall fercent profit, the
(52)
totalof which, however, insutes success instead of failure.

It is conceivable that a 5 acre Orchard with a production of
2500 boxes might have yielded a profitawle return when apples
returned $1.50 or more a vox, but when prices canno* be expected
to average more than §1.00 a box, the profits accruing from this
volume of business are not sufficient for the living of an average
family. It is certain that the day of the small grower is past,
and that henceforth we may expect the orchards to be combined in
larger units, the size of which will be determined by the profits
of the business, - in general, the smaller the profits the larger
will be the orchards. The capitalization necessary per acre will
be less than now, but the capitalization per orchard will be more.

With this readjustment of orchard acerage must come & readjust-
ment of the makeup of the orchards. Undesirable fruits and unprofit-
able varieties must be eliminated. It seems probable that special-
ization in apple production has been carried farther than is
desireble, and that soft fruits have not teen allowed to demonstrate
fully that they might profitably serve as an adjurct tc the apple
business.

Peaches might be cited as the one exception to this statement.
Peach growing hus unmistakeably been demonstrated as unprofitable.
To reach distant markets in the fresh condition it is necessary to
pick the fruit green. The lack of flavor of such peaches js always
noted. A Northwestern peach on an Eastern market Is,and ought to
be discriminated ucalnst in favor of its tree-ripened Kastern
competitor. Canned, the Wenatchee peach must compete with the

California product and less favorable freight rates. ‘This it has
(53)
thus far not been aodle to do.

But in the other scft fruits which réach perfection in the
Wenatchee country there is no question as to their ability to compete
on the markets to which they ean be sent, and this includes practically
the whole country. It would seem that the growing of cherries,
apricots, pears, and plums should be encouraged. This would pro=-
vide an essential diversification, give a greater seasonal distri-
bution of labor, and bring in money at the season of the year
wher it is most necded — for the handling of the main crop, -
apples. Moreover, profitable returns on these fruits have nearly
always been obtained.

Pears heve been especially profitable. Fire blight is not
feared, scab and other fungous troubles are unknown, and insect
pests are of minor importance. A crop of pears can be grown with
far less trouble and expense than a crop of apples, and it has
been the experience of many growers that pears have yielded con-
sistent profits while apples huve not. Pears have a high average
yield in the Wenatchee country, 3 to 4 boxes per tree for all
varieties and for trees 5 years old and above.

Bartlett is the principal variety grown, and is et present
represented by approximately 60,000 trees in this region. Anjou
comes second with about 20,000 trees, followed by Comice with 4,000,
and Winter Nelis with 3,000. Other varieties are also found in
smaller numbers.

The Bartlett foliows the California product on the market
and is often affected by conditions created by it, but on the

average has yielded profitable returns. Of the other verieties
(54)
the Anjou appears most likely to te favored. It does very well
under Wenatchee conditions and heretofore the supply has never
equalled the demand, and prices as high as £2.00 « box have pre-
vailed. An objection to it is that its lateness brings it into
conflict with the rush of the apple harvest. However, its
qualifications ought to recommend it more favorably than certain
varieties of apples.

Stone fruits do well in this region, and the arid climate
precludes any danger from fungous troubles which so often make
this type of fruit growing unprofitable.

Cherries are represented mainly by four varieties, shich, in
order of their prominence are; Bing, Royal Ann ( the Napoleon of
the East ), Lambert, and Black Republican. There are in the Valley
about 31,000 cherry trees, distributed mainly, however, only a few
trees to a ranch, with few cherry orchards of more than an acre.

There is a wide and growing demand for all of the varieties
grown here, the black kinds for shipment fresh, and the Royal Ann
for canning and the manufacture of “maraschino” cherries. The
Bing and pambert reach perfection in this climate, and their solid
meaty texture gives unequalled shipping quality. The large size
which they attain under Wenatchee conditions, together wit:: their
high dessert quality brings instant favor on the market and profit-
able returns to the grower. The Black Republican is cf smaller
size and o” poorer quality, but is equally good as a shipper. It
does not, however, commend as high prices.

The Wenatchee cherry grower is not confronted with much

competition, for the sweet cherry industry is confined largely to
(55)
the Pacific Coast. In this region Wenatchee is particularily
favored because of the absence of rains at ripening time, which
elsewhere cause great loss in cracked fruit. Cherries grown in
the more humid sections of the Northwest are practically forced
onto the canning factory market for the prevalence of fungous
rots prevents their shipment to distant markets, and so removes them
from competition with Wenatchee. The California cherries are off
the market before the wenatchee product arrives. The California
varieties are, moreover, mostly inferior in dessert quality, and
so should offer wo serious competition. The possibilities of
development for the sweet cherry trade are as yet unrealized,
and perhaps, offer greater opportunities for success than is the
case with any other soft fruit.

But to achieve successin cherry production the Wenatchee
grower must be prepared to devote greater care in handling and
packing than he now does, and must give to the business the
serious attention it deserves, instead of the incidental manner
in which he now regards it.

It has been proved experimentally that of the four principal
varieties grown here, the Bing, Lambert, and Royal Amn are both
self-sterile and inter-sterile. This fact is not generally
appreciated by cherry growers, but should be taken into consideration
in the further commercial development of the industry. Such other
varieties as will insure perfect pollination should be introduced,
and in this way the present objection cf the growers to cherry
growing, that is, of ylelde not being heavy enough, will be overcome.

On certain of the lighter soils the apricot does remarkatly
(56)
well, altho it thrives in all parts of the yalley. But in those
sections where it does the best, as at Rock Island, it is one of
the most profitable fruits which can be grcwn. It should be planted
more extensively in the effort toward diversification. The market
supply of fresh apricots is limited by factors similar to those
prevailing in the case of cherries. It seers therefore that
Wenatchee, which produces this fruit in such perfection, should
accord it more emphasis, and efforts be made to supply and extend
the market for this fruit. The bulk of the California crop,
which included most of the apricots grown in the United States,
is dried or canned, which removes it from competition with Wenatchee.
In any event the fresh apricets which California could supply would
be off the market before the arrival of the wenatchee product.

The principal variety grown is the Moorpark. It represents
fully 75% of the total. Other varieties such as the Royal and
the Tilton should be given more prominence to extend the season.
The Moerpark is subject to the fault of ripening one side of the
fruit before the other, - but properly ripened is of fine quality,
large size, and excellent appearance, selling well in the markets.
Tilton is superior in dessert quality, is equally productive, and
should be more generally grown.

The same remarks accorded to cherries and apricots could, in
general, be applied to plums and prunes. What few plantings of
these fruits that exist are very productive and profitable. It is
a noteworthy fact, however, that aside from the Italian prune
there is not a single fine dessert variety grown, and yet all the

plums are shipped fcr the fruit stand and dessert trade. It is
(57)
true that the requisite qualities for yield, shipment, and dessert
are best combined for this region in the Italian prune, but if so
inferior varieties such as the Peach plum, which is at present
liberally planted, should be replaced by the Italian. If other
varieties are desired for diversification preference should be
given those which have proved their merit.

In addition to the soft fruits above discussed, summer apples,
especially for markets west of the Mississippi might well be in-
cluded in efforts toward diversification in the industry. Summer
apples are always in good demand, and yield profitable returns,
often comparing with the winter varieties to the disadvantage of
the latter. Summer apples are out of the way before the last
brood of the codling moth can do much damage, and hence fewer
precautjons and less labor is required in their production than
in growing winter apples.

A proper balance only is to be sought between summer fruits
and the winter apples, which must continue to be the main reliance
of the Wenatchee orchardist. This balance can best be worked out
by each individual grower thru attention to the factors involved
in his own particular problem. Certain it is that at present the
business is overbalanced and handicapped by the emphasis placed on
winter apples, and the lack of attention to sources of income in
summer fruits.

A consideration of the varieties of apples that are regurded

as undesirable, and which should therefore be eliminated might

properly involve a discussion of each in detail. However, in this
(58)
connection it will] not be mecessary, for the experience of shippers
yields abundant evidence on this point. In certain years all
varieties grown in the district have ylelded profitable returns,
but, considered on the basis of returns thruout all the past
seasons, only a few have shown themselves as consistently profit-
able. Growers are naturally reluctant to remove full-grown trees,
especially as they may have occasionally returned a profit, yet
such heroic measures as may be involved in the removal of these
varieties is essential to future permanent success.

it is the concensus of epinion among shippers that the follow-
ing varieties are the ones upon which reasonable reliance can be
had for consistently profitable returns: Arkansas Black, Delicious,
Grimes, Jonathan, Ortley, Rome, Spitzenburg, Winesap, Winter panana,
White Winter Pearmain, Yellow Newtown. No hesitancy should be
shown toward expansion in planting any of these varieties, or in
grafting over other varieties to these. Delicious and Winesap have
proved especially profitable to Wenatchee growers and the former especially
might well be much more generally grown.

There appears to be honest difference of opinion as to a few
varieties, notably the Aiken Red, Delaware Red, Cano or Black Ben
pavis, Mammoth Black Twig, and Stayman. In Bouthern markets the
Delaware Red and the Black Twig find a ready sale. For export to
Eurpoean markets the Aiken Red hus good poseibilities. Large sizes
of Stayman are in demand, but ite reputed poor keeping quality is
responsible for a loss of favor. It is likely that these varieties

grown in limited quantity and in desiravle sizes can be handled at
(59)
a profit.

For the remainder of the list of varieties crown in the Wen-
atchee country it must be said that their culture offers no per-
manent possibility of success, and the sooner they are replaced
either with summer fruits or with stundard varieties of winter
apples, as indicated above, the better it wil] be for the industry.
The standard varieties will produce enough low grade fruit to supply
the demand for cheaper graces without competition from undesirable
varieties.

The desirability of the elimination of both local and sectional
competition of shipper® and marketing agencies has already been
covered in a previous discussion, but attention may again be direct-
ed to the importance of this in any permanent organization of the
industry. , Upon the final solution of this difficulty probably
hinges the future success of the industry. Its solution will call
for years of experiment and evclution, and it is not now possible
to predict in what direction future action will lie. But growing
out of past experience are evolved certain suggestions whose
development lies in the natural progress of this phase of Wenatchee's
problems.

Natural outlets to comsumption must be accepted, and new markets
must be developed. This is beins done tc a degree at present, but
{t seems that certain markets are being neglected, while others are
given too much attention. At present the great tulk of Yenatchee's
fruit, apples particularly,. is marketed eust of the Mississippi
and right in the territory covered by the cheaper product of

Eastern orchards, where the price level of all Wenatchee fruit is
(60)
automatically lowered, while the markets of the Pacific Coast and
the creat Plains region are not cultivated as they might be.

The great bulk of the American apples are undoubtedly con-
sumed in the great industrial centers of the East. However, the
great bulk of the American apples are produced in close proximity
to these centers, and this market very naturally belongs to the
Eastern fruit. The more expensive Wenatchee product cannot be
expected to compete successfully, and yet, under present conditions,
it is endeavored to bring this about. The large percent of
questionable and undesirable varieties, and the bulk of the cheaper
grade apples of standard varieties naturally finds greatest demand
in this class of market, where prime condition and highest quality
yield to lower price as a sales inducement. It would seem that this
type of apple from Wenatchee, while being curtailed at home by
methods before outlined, should, in the future, be largely taken
care of in Western markets where it will mot meet the competition
of the Kast. There is an enormous expanse of country which does .
not grow apples, but settled by a prosperous farming population
thruout the region west of the Mississippi whick should be able to
absorb at prices profitable to the grower the greater proportion
of this type of apple from the Northwest.

Without competition from this type of Northwestern boxed
apple ,the extmfancy grades of Wenatchee's standard varieties
would meet a réady sale, and be in constantly increasing demand
for the fancy trade to which they are best adapted. No extensive
Eastern competition in this line need be feared and the limiting

factor appears to be centered at home - in the competition cf
(61)
low grades and small sizes of good varieties, and all grates and
all sizes of varieties coming more and more to be recognized as un-
desirable. Wenatchee has nothing to fear as to its ability to
satisfy the fancy trade but it has everything to fear from its
ability to confuse that trade wit: undesirable grades and varieties.
It should exclude the fruit which wil] not maintain its reputation
and stimulate a demand for its specialties.

At present there is a tendency to use the Pacific Coast cities
as a dumping ground for iow grade fruit. Extra fancy apples do not
enjoy the seule in this home territory which they could be made to.

A derand for apples is mot attracted by the class of fruit which

is thrown upon these markets. Intelligently cultivated, these cities
could be made to offer a constantly increasing jemand for the products
of the Northwest. This ts particularily true in connection with

the soft fruite produced in the Wenatchee country. While much of

this fruit can be successfully marketed in the East there is a large
territory near at hand in the Northwest which is never supplied.

The careful handling and uniform high quality of Wenatchee
apples makes them especially desirable for export. Foreign markets
aré cultivated to some extent at present, but this trade has not
been fully developed. In most European countries aprles are of
limited production and are treated as luxuries, selling at high
prices. If the Wenatchee apple can get into these markets with
an even chance to compete at prices comparable to those charged for
home grown apples its superior condition and finish should give
it an advantage whick would justify constantly increasing attention.

to this outlet for a considereble portion of those varieties best
(62)
suited for foreicn shipment.

Shipments to Australia and South America have already assumed
considerable proportions. The alternation of seasons, in this case,
is a favorable condition, and brings Wenatchee fruit into the markets
of the Antipodes during the time of year when home grown fruit is
not to be had. Australia demands small apples - and has not
seemed particular about high quality varieties. Most of the fruit
heretofore shipped to Australia has consisted of apples 14 to 2 inches
in diameter, showing only a little color, and thinned from the trees
during the latter part of August. Many growers huve made a practice
of doing most of their thinning at this time. The fruit must be
perfestly sound in order tc pass inspection but immaturity is not
considered. If it pays to ship this kind of fruit it would seem
that there might be possibilities in sending good quality and first
class varieties.

The South American markets differ somewhat from the Australian
in iemanding large sized fruit, but this qualification is easily
met in Wenatchee apples. Brazil, Argentina, and Chili now take
emall quantities of the Wenatchee output ani can doubtless be made
to take more if their market demands are intelligently met.

The Orient now takes only a negligible portion of the Wenatchee
foreign trade, 11 indeed imports very few apples. It would
seem that in this direction great possibilities could be opened up.
However, most of the potential foreign trade cannot immediately
be hoped for even if machinery were present for securing it.
Shipments to these countries cannot be depended on until after

the war and the sea routes are again established.
(63)

Sporadic invasion of these markets will not establish the trade.
Assurance of a constant supply is a matter of prime importance in
obtaining a permanent and stable market. Under the present organ-
ization of the marketing agencies no great progress can be expected
in the extension of foreign markets. Only a preponderant market-
ing force, controlling a major percentage of the Northwestern crop,
and capable of intelligent, non-competitive distribution, and the
extension and protection of markets = only with such an organization
can the maximum of efficieucy and success in marketing be assured
both in the domestic and foreign field.

The Canadian prairie Provinces occupy much the same field in
relation to Wenatchee fruit as do the Great Plains area of the
United States. The prairie Provinces have lon: been regarded by
the British Columbia and Ontario fruit growers as their own special
markets, yet the higher cost of production in the former region,
and the remoteness of the.latter really gives Wenatchee a chance
to enter with them almost on a parity. Tariff barriers have been
raised by Canada in an effort to handicap the Northwestern fruit in
favor of the Canadian product. But thus far Wenatchee fruit is
able to successfully compete, and it is likely that this section
of Ganada can be made to absorb a constantly increasing amount.

With the development of Alabka a constantly increasing
tonnage will be attracted to that murket, and always at good. prices.
But due te climatic conditions early shipments only can be made
and attention should be directed to securing for this trade the
maximum of quality instead of the high percent of junk which at

present is sent.
(64)

There remains one other influence which mst have an important
bearing on the future successful management of the industry — the
manufacture of all low grade fruit and present waste into by-products.

The past history of by-products factories in the Northwest is
not an encouragement to enter this business. Statistics show that
of the cooperative plants that have been established 83% have been
entire failures, 10% of the remainder have never yielded a profit
worth mentioning but have been carried as a side line by some other
activity in which the cooperative organization was engaged. With
the organization however, of a dominant marketing force to handle
the Northwestern apple, the production of by-products could be put
on a sounder basis than has been possible in the past, an‘ could be
made to care for a large percent of the apples that at present yield
no returns to the growers, and also a large proportion of the soft
fruit.

Essential for success with by-products is diversification of
fruits handled - one fruit alone cannot be handled successfully.
Another equally important consideration is stability of output.
By=products cannot be expected to be used for relief éne year
and their manufacture abandoned in favor of marketing the fruit in
a fresh condition the following year. The by-products demani must
be cultivated and maintained year after year if permanent success
is to be achieved. Unless, therefore, this part of the business
is under the control of a dominant organization appreciative of
these facts and capable of meeting them there can be no hope for
success in this line.

Such then are the problems to be met. That they can be
(65)
successfully met is certain, but that they will be speedily solved
is mot probable. However, it is clear that the horticulture of
Wenatchee is a permanent, basic industry, developed out of umrival-
ed natural advantages. Nature seems to have specially endowed the
Wenatchee country for fruit production, and Nature's gift will not
be withdrawn. Man, thus far, has not been able to synchroni ze
himself with Nature's efforts, but that he will eventually do so
may confidently be expected. The future of Wenatchse's horticultural
industry is assured altho the process of evolution may be severe

and extended.
(66)

Oe

TLLUSLRATI ONS

ae
 

(67)

 

Map showing geographic location of the Wenatchee Country.
 

 

Raw land in the Wenatchee country. Covered with sagebrush.
(69)

 

 

Panoramic view of the Wenatchee district. Left section.
 

(70)

 

Panoramic view of the Wenatchee district.

Center section.
(71)

 

 

—— ZEA

ana. eae

 

 

Panoramic view of the Wenatchee district. Right section.
(72)

 

 

Panoramic view of the Cashmere district. Right section.
(73)

 

 

Panoramic view of the Cashmere district. Center section.
(74)

 

 

Panoramic view of the Cashmere district. Left section.
(75)

or LW
a. (

 

View across the Wenatchee Valley near Monitor, Wash.
(76)

 

 

Loma f

View showing the furrow system of irrigation employed in

the Wenatchee country.
(77)

 

 

Orchards located above the High Line Canal at Wenatchee, Wash.,

and irrigated by pumping.
(78)

 

 

A four year old Winesap orchard in the Wenatchee country.
(79)

 

A 10-year old Winesap tree at harvest time in the Wenatchee

Valley.
(80)

 

 

Trees rows cultivated

Alfalfa cover crop In a young orchard.

entire area.

but later the alfalfa is allowed to cover the
so .
(81)

a

Nae

=
LOSE

.
=i
wat

 

Heavy irrigation itiduces a rank growth of vetch cover crops.
(82)

 

 

Trees planted in exposed locations are much misshapen by the

strong winds which blow from the mountains to the west of Wenatchee.
(83)

beatin ae
Laat

 

dies

"Thinning out” an Arkansas Black orchard that was planted

Illustrates the ill-advised pruning practices which

too close.

prevail in the wenatchee country.
(84)

 

 

 

State Inspectors cutting out fire blight from an infected
Spitzenburg tree in the Wenatchee Valley. Note that opportunity

has been left for grafting.
(85)

a

kag
dee
At

 

eet

Picking apples in the Wenatchee Valley.
(86)

 

 

Packing apples in an orchard packing shed, Wenatchee, Wash.

In this case the packers are sorting and grading as they pack

direct from the orchard boxes of loose fruit.
 

 

STATE OF WASHINGTON

Horticultural Laws

OF THE

State of Washington

Chapter 166, Session Laws 1915

 

OLYMPIA.

FRANK M. LAMBORN éfzaio PUBLIC PRINTER
1915

 

 
CHAPTER 166.
[H. B. 74.]

An Act relating to horticulture and horticultural plants and
products and the protection thereof, prescribing certain rules
of evidence, requiring certain contracts to be in writing, au-
thorizing the levy and collection of taxes for horticultural
purposes, providing for the enforcement of the provisions
hereof by writs of mandate and injunction, authorizing coun-
ties and municipalities to aid in the enforcement hereof, vali-
dating certain expenditures heretofore made for the protec-
tion of horticultural interests, providing penalties for viola-
tions of this act and methods of collecting the cost of enforc-
ing the same in certain cases, repealing sections 3075, 3079,
3080, 3083 to 3110 inclusive; 3113, 3115, 3116, 3117, 3119, 3120,
3122 to 3127 inclusive; 3131 and 3134 to 3139 inclusive of Rem-
ington and Ballinger’s Annotated Codes and Statutes of Wash-
ington, and declaring this act shall take effect immediately.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Washington:

Section 1. That the term “Commissioner” whenever
used in this-act shall be held and construed to mean the
commissioner of agriculture of the State of Washington,
and the term “assistant commissioner” and “assistant”
shall be held and construed to mean the assistant commis-
sioner of agriculture for the division of horticulture; the
term “horticultural inspector” and the term “inspector”
wherever used in this act shall be held and construed to
mean an inspector of the department of agriculture, as-
signed to the division of horticulture; the term “nursery
stock” wherever used in this act shall be held and con-
strued to mean and include fruit trees, fruit tree stock,
nut trees, grape vines, fruit bushes, rose bushes, rose stock,
forest and ornamental trees and shrubs (both deciduous
and evergreen), florists’ stock, and cuttings, scions and
seedlings of fruit or ornamental trees or shrubs, and all
other fruit bearing plants and parts thereof and plant
products for propagation or planting; the term “infect”
and its derivatives “infecting,” “infected” and “infection,”
wherever used in this act shall be held and construed to
mean and include being affected by or infested with the dis-
3

ease or insect pests to which horticultural plants and pro-
ducts are subject and which are required to be guarded
against, controlled, cured, removed, and eradicated as in
this act provided; the term “disinfect” and its derivatives
shall be held and construed to mean and include the cure,
removal or eradication of such diseases or pests by cutting
and destroying the infected parts, or the application of
fungicides or insecticides specified in this act or such other
effective solutions or emulsions as may be discovered by sci-
ence and specified and described in the bulletins issued by
the commissioner of agriculture, and the term “person”
wherever used in this act, shall be held and construed to
mean and include individuals, partnerships, associations,
joint stock companies and corporations.

Sec. 2. The commissioner of agriculture shall have
the power and it shall be his duty:

(a) To exercise a general supervisory and directory
control over the horticultural interests of the state:

(b) To arrange for and hold meetings for the discus-
sion and dissemination of information as to horticultural
subjects and for the demonstration of methods of prevent-
ing diseases of and pests injurious to horticultural plants,
fruits and vegetables, and of curing and removing the same:

(c) To publish and distribute circulars and reports
upon horticultural subjects, the pests affecting and the dis-
eases of fruit trees, vines or bushes, ornamental trees or
shrubbery, horticultural plants, fruits, vegetables and nur-
sery stock, and the means and methods of controlling,
curing, removing, eradicating and disinfecting for such
diseases and pests:

(d) To issue licenses to nurserymen and dealers in nur-
sery stock and their agents, salesmen and solicitors and
revoke the same for violations of or failure to comply with
this act, and to keep in his office a record of all licenses
issued, showing the character of the license, name and
address of the holder, the date of issue and the date of ex-
piration or revocation:

 
4

(e) To furnish to the board of county commission-
ers of each county, annually, on or before September 1,
an estimate of the expenses for the ensuing year of in-
specting and disinfecting orchards, vineyard, berry farms,
vegetable farms and nurseries, and packing houses, ware-
houses, store-rooms, depots, docks and other places where
fruits, vegetables or nursery stock are grown, packed,
stored, shipped or held for shipment or delivery or offered
for sale within said county ;

(f) To appoint inspectors to enforce and carry out
the provisions of this act, which inspectors may be of two
classes, inspectors at large and local inspectors: Provided,
That not more than twenty inspectors at large shall be
appointed.

(zg) The commissioner may also in his discretion ap-
point any officer or member of any local fruit protective
association to act as inspector, vested with power only to
enter premises and inspect orchards and report to the
inspector-at-large. Such inspectors shall receive no com-
pensation for services and shall not be required to take
the regular examination required of inspectors-at-large
and local inspectors.

(h) To make, adopt, issue and publish from time to
time and enforce general rules and regulations governing
the grading and packing of apples, and other fruits.

The commissioner of agriculture, and under -his direc-
tion and control the assistant commissioner and the horti-
cultural inspectors, shall have the power and it shall be
their duty:

(a) To enforce the provisions of this act and all laws
relating to horticultural interests:

(b) To inspect orchards, vineyards, berry farms, vege-
table farms, nurseries, fruit trees, vines or bushes, orna-
mental trees or shrubbery, horticultural plants, fruits,
vegetables, nursery stock and horticultural supplies, and
packing houses, dry houses, warehouses, store-rooms, de-
pots, docks, cars, vessels and other places where fruits,
vegetables or nursery stock are packed, stored, shipped or
held for shipment or delivery or offered for sale, and other
5

property liable to be infected with any disease or pest in-
jurious to horticulture, and to require the disinfection of
all such property and premises found to be infected and
for that purpose shall have free access to such property
and premises at all times.

(c) To inspect and examine orchards, vineyards, nur-
series, berry farms, vegetable farms, fruits, vegetables,
nursery stock and all other horticultural plants and prod-
ucts, at the request of the owner thereof for the purpose
of discovering the existence of any disease or pest, and
to report to the applicant the result of such investigation
and prescribe proper remedies ;

(d) To disinfect orchards, vineyards, berry farms,
nurseries, fruit trees, vines and bushes, ornamental trees
and shrubbery, horticultural plants, fruits, vegetables and
nursery stock, and packing houses, dry houses, ware-
houses, store-rooms, depots, docks, cars, vessels and other
places where nursery stock, fruits or vegetables are packed,
stored or shipped or held for shipment or delivery or
offered for sale, in case the owner or person having the
same in charge shall neglect or refuse so to do, after no-
tice; and in case any infected fruit trees, vines or bushes,
ornamental trees or shrubbery, horticultural plants, fruits,
vegetables or nursery stock cannot be successfully disin-
fected to condemn and destroy the same or cause the same
to be destroyed ; 7

(ce) To require all partially infected fruit, vegetable
and nursery stock shipments to be sorted and repacked
and, in case the owner or person having charge of the
same shall neglect or refuse so to do after notice, to con-
demn and destroy the same;

(f) To issue certificates of inspection to licensed nur-
serymen and dealers in nursery stock, on stock inspected
and approved.

Sec. 3. Inspectors-at-large may be assigned to duty
Ira one or more counties and transferred from one county to
amother in the discretion of the commissioner, and their
salaries, compensation and actual and necessary traveling

 
6

expenses shall be paid by warrants drawn upon the state
treasurer by the state auditor upon vouchers signed and
verified under oath by such inspectors and countersigned
by the commissioner or the assistant commissioner. In
addition to inspectors-at-large the commissioner shall,
whenever the board of county commissioners of any coun-
ty by resolution request it, appoint such number of local
inspectors and for such length of time as such resolution
shall specify and assign them to duty in such county. The
salaries, not to exceed four dollars per day, and actual and
necessary traveling expenses, within the county, of all
local inspectors shall be paid out of the current expense
fund of their respective counties upon vouchers signed and
verified under oath by such inspectors and approved by the
commissioner or the assistant commissioner, and the county
auditor shall issue warrants therefor upon the said county
fund. All local inspectors shall be under the direction and
control of the commissioner of agriculture and the assist-
ant commisisoner. In case any inspector is dismissed from
the service or transferred to another place, or to other
duties, any qualified inspector or officer of the agricultural
department may continue or complete any work or per-
form any duty initiated by such dismissed or transferred
officer.

Sec. 4. It shall be the duty of every person owning,
leasing or occupying any land or premises on which there
is or shall be growing, grown or situate any nursery stock,
fruit trees, vines or bushes, shade trees, ornamental trees
or shrubbery, or any horticultural plants, and of the owner
or lessee of any such nursery stock, trees, fruit trees, vines,
bushes, shrubbery or plants growing or situate on prem-
ises leased or occupied by him, and of the owner of any
such nursery stock, trees, fruit trees, vines, bushes, shrub-
bery or plants growing, situate or being at any place
within the State of Washington, for sale or delivery, and
of every grower, shipper, commission merchant, consignee,
dealer in and person in charge of any nursery stock, fruit
or vegetables about to be shipped, or shipped, or held for

V1
7

delivery or offered for sale, to take and use sufficient meth-
ods and means for the prevention of infection by all pests
and diseases to which such nursery stock, trees, fruit trees,
vines, bushes, shrubbery, plants, fruits or vegetables may
be subject, and to keep the same free from disease and
pests, and, in event it is found that any such nursery
stock, trees, fruit trees, vines, bushes, shrubbery, plants,
fruits or vegetables are infected with any disease or pest,
to promptly take and use effective means to control, cure,
remove, eradicate and disinfect for the same, and in case
such nursery stock, trees, fruit trees, vines, bushes, shrub-
bery, plants; fruits or vegetables cannot be successfully
disinfected, to promptly destroy the same, and it shall be
the duty of every owner and of the lessee of any prem-
ises upon which there are growing any infected fruit, fruit
trees, shade or ornamental trees, vines or bushes, to thor-
oughly spray the same with a proper solution or emulsion
or otherwise disinfect the same for the control, cure or
removal of such infection.

Sec. 5. The pests injurious to and diseases of nursery
stock, fruit trees, shade trees, ornamental trees and shrub-
bery, horticultural plants, fruit and vegetables to be
guarded against, controlled, treated, removed, eradicated
and disinfected for, as in the next preceding section pro-
vided, shall be all bacterial diseases, including fire blight
of apple, pear and quince, crown gall or root gall, and
hairy root; all fungus diseases, including black spot can-
ker, pear scab, apple scab, apple powdery mildew, peach
leaf curl, peach mildew, brown rot of peach, cherry and
“prune, chestnut blight, potato wart, powdery scab of po-
_tato and peach twig blight; all insect pests, including
chewing insects, such as bud moth, peach twig borer,
caterpillars, pear slug, flat-headed borer, round-headed
borer, imported cabbage worm, potato tuber moth, potato
nematode or eel worm, Mediterranean fruit fly, lesser apple
worm, tussock moth, gypsy moth, brown tail moth, cod-
dling moth, and the larva of any thereof, and sucking in-
sects, such as San Jose scale, scurfy scale, oyster shell

 
8

bark louse, aphids, pear leaf blistermites and red spider ;
and such other bacterial and fungus diseases and insect
pests as may be identified by science and specified and de-
scribed as injurious to horticulture in the circulars to be
issued from time to time by the commissioner of agricul-
ture. .

The methods and means required to be used for the pre-
vention, control, removal, eradication and cure of the dis-
eases and pests ubove specified, shall be as follows: For
bacterial diseases, eradication by the removal and destruc-
tion of the infected plant or part thereof, care being taken
to disinfect all tools used in such removal to prevent the
spread of the infection or by any other methods that shall
have been approved by the insecticide and fungicide board ;
for fungus diseases, control or cure by spraying with effec-
tive fungicides, such as bordeaux solution, lime-sulphur
solution, sulphide of iron or other effective fungicides ; for
chewing insect pests, control or removal by spraying with
effective insecticides, such as arsenate of lead solution
and arsenite or zinc solution; for sucking insect pests, con-
trol or removal by spraying with effective insecticides such
as lime-sulphur solution, crude oil emulsion, tobacco solu-
tion, distillate oil emulsion, kerosene emulsion, soap solu-
tion, and sulphur solution, or combinations thereof; and
for fungus and insect pests, control, cure or removal by
spraying with such other effective solutions and emulsions
as may be discovered by science and specified and described
in the circulars issued by the commissioner of agriculture.

Sec. 6. There is hereby created a board to be known
as the state insecticide and fungicide board, which board
shall consist of the commissioner of agriculture or the as-
sistant commissioner, the director of the agricultural ex-
periment station at Pullman and three members of the agri-
cultural experiment station to be appointed by the director,
one of whom shall be an entomologist, one a plant patholo-
gist and one a chemist. It shall be the duty of the said
board to analyze and report upon any insecticides and
fungicides offered for sale to be used in the control and re-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
9

moval of insect pests and fungus and bacterial diseases
to which horticultural plants are subject. It shall be the
duty of all horticultural inspectors to from time to time
procure and submit to such board samples of such insccti-
cides and fungicides offered for sale.

Sec. 7. It shall be unlawful for any person to offer for
sale in the State of Washington any horticultural insecti-
cide or fungicide which is adulterated or misbranded with-
in the meaning of this act. The term “insecticide” as used
in this act shall include any substance or mixture of sub-
stances intended to be used for preventing, destroying, re-
pelling, or mitigating any insects which may infest vege-
tation. The term “Paris green” as used in this act shall
include the product sold in commerce as Paris green and
chemically known as the aceto-arsenite of copper. The
term “lead arsenate” as used in this act shall include the
product or products sold in commerce as lead arsenate and
consisting chemically of products derived from arsenic acid
(H3As04) by replacing one or more hydrogen atoms by
lead. That the term “fungicide” as used in this act shall
include any substance or mixture of substances intended
to be used for preventing, destroying, repelling, or miti-
gating any and all fungi that may infest vegetation or be
present in any environment whatsoever.

Sec. 8. That for the purpose of this act an article
shall be deemed to be adulterated—

In the case of Paris green: First, if it does not contain
at least fifty per centum of arsenious oxide; second, if it
contains arsenic in water-soluble form equivalent to more
than three and one-half per centum of arsenious oxide;
third, if any substance has been mixed and packed with it
so as to reduce or lower or injuriously affect its quality
or strength.

In the case of lead arsenate: First, if it contains more
than fifty per centum of water; second, if it contains total
arsenic equivalent to less than twelve and one-half per
centum of arsenic oxid (As205) ; third, if it contains ar-
senic in water-soluble form equivalent to more than seven-

 
10

ty-five one hundredths per centum or arsenic oxid (As205) ;
fourth, if any substances have been mixed and packed with
it so as to reduce, lower, or injuriously affect its quality
or strength: Provided, however, That extra water may be
added to lead arsenate (as described in this paragraph)
if the resulting mixture is labeled lead arsenate and water,
the percentage of extra water being plainly and correctly
stated on the label.

In the case of insecticides or fungicides, other than
Paris green and lead arsenate: First, if its strength or
purity fall below the professed standard or quality under
which it is sold; second, if any substance has been sub-
stituted wholly or in part for the article; third, if any
valuable constituent of the article has been wholly or in
part abstracted ; fourth, if it is intended for use on vege-
tation and shall contain any substance or substances
which, although preventing, destroying, repelling, or miti-
gating insects, shall be injurious to such vegetation when
used.

That the term “misbranded” as used herein shall apply
to all insecticides, Paris green, lead arsenates, or fungi-
cides, or articles which enter into the composition of in-
secticides or fungicides, the package or label of which
shall bear any statement, design, or device regarding such
article or the ingredients or substances contained therein
which shall be false or misleading in any particular, and
to all insecticides, Paris greens, lead arsenates, or fungi-
cides which are falsely branded as to the state, territory,
or country in which they are manufactured or produced.

That for the purpose of this act an article shall be
deemed to be misbranded—

In the case of insecticides, Paris greens, lead arsenates,
and fungicides: First, if it be an imitation or offered for
sale under the name of another article; second, if it be
labeled or branded so as to deceive or mislead the purchaser,
or if the contents of the package as originally put up shall
have been removed in whole or in part and other contents
shall have been placed in such package; third, if in pack-

 

 
11

age form, and the contents are stated in terms of weight
or measure, they are not plainly and correctly stated on

the outside of the package.
In the case of insecticides (other than Paris greens and

lead arsenates) and fungicides: First, if it contains ar-
senic in any of its combinations or in the elemental form
and the total amount or arsenic present (expressed as per
centum of metallic arsenic) is not stated on the label;
second, if it contains arsenic in any of its combinations or
in the elemental form and the amount of arsenic in water-
soluble forms (expressed as per centum of metallic arsenic )
is not stated on the label; third, if it consists partially or
completely of an inert substance or substances which do
not prevent, destroy, repel, or mitigate insects or fungi
and does not have the names and percentage amounts of
each and every one of such inert ingredients plainly and
correctly stated on the label: Provided, however, That in
lieu of naming and stating the percentage amount of each
and every inert ingredient the producer may at his dis-
cretion state plainly upon the label the correct names and
percentage amounts of each and every ingredient of the
insecticide or fungicide having insecticidal or fungicidal
properties, and make no mention of the inert ingredents,
except in so far as to state the total percentage of inert
ingredients present.

Sec. 9. The commissioner of agriculture, the assistant
commissioner and all horticultural inspectors are author-
ized and empowered to at any time enter upon any prem-
ises where any nursery, orchard, vineyard, berry farm or
vegetable farm is situate or whereon any nursery stock,
fruit trees, shade trees, ornamental trees or shrubbery or
horticultural plants are growing, or upon any premises or
into any building, packing house, dry house, warehouses,
store-room, depot, dock, car, vessel, or other place wherein
any nursery stock, fruits, vegetables, or horticultural
products are situate, being prepared or packed for ship-
ment, stored, shipped, held for shipment or for delivery
upon any shipment or sale, or offered for sale for the pur-

 
12

pose of examining and inspecting such premises or prop-
erty to ascertain whether the same or any thereof are in-
fected, and it shall be unlawful for any person to hinder
or prevent or to attempt to hinder or prevent any such
officer from entering such premises or inspecting such
premises or property or performing any duty required by
this act.

Sec. 10. In case the officer making the inspection pro-
vided for in the preceding section shall find that the prem-
isecs or property inspected is infected, he shall condemn
the same and serve upon the owner or upon the person hav-
ing possession or charge of said premises or of said prop-
erty a notice in writing that the same is condemned and
ordering the disinfection of any and all thereof which is
capable of disinfection and the destruction of such prop-
erty as is incapable of disinfection, which notice shall
describe the premises or property ordered to be disinfected
or destroyed with reasonable certainty and shall specify
the time within which the same shall be so disinfected or
destroyed; and shall give notice that unless the premises
or property ordered disinfected or destroyed is disinfected
or destroyed as directed, in the manner and within the time
specified in said notice, the same will be done by the officer
giving the notice and the expense thereof charged against
the premises and the owner of said premises or property.
In case said premises or property is in the possession or
charge of any person upon whom service can be made,
the officer making the inspection shall serve a copy of such
notice upon such person and, in case the premises or prop-
erty is in possession or charge of any other person than
the owner thereof, or service cannot be had upon any per-
son in possession or charge thereof, the officer shall serve
said notice upon the owner of said premises or property by
mailing or telegraphing him a copy thereof, if his name or
postoffice address are known to the officer or can with
reasonable diligence be ascertained. In case personal serv-
ice of said notice cannot be had upon any person in pos-
session or charge of said premises or property and the

 
13

name and address of the owner of such premises or prop-
erty are not known and cannot with reasonable diligence
be ascertained, said notice shall be served by posting the
same in a conspicuous place upon the premises where the
property to be disinfected or destroyed is situated, as the
case may be. In case the name and postoffice address of
the owner are not known and cannot with reasonable dili-
gence be ascertained and in the absence of fraud and gross
neglect, service of such notice upon the person in possession
or charge of said premises or property shall be construed
to be substituted personal service upon the owner, and, in
case service of such notice upon a person in possession or
charge of such premises or property cannot be had and the
name and post office address of the owner is not known
and cannot with reasonable diligence be ascertained and
in the absence of fraud and gross neglect, such posting
of the notice upon the premises shall be construed to be
constructive personal service upon the owner of such
premises or property. Upon the giving of such notice as
hereinabove provided it shall become and be the duty of the
owner and person having possession or charge of the prem-
ises or property described in the notice to, within the time
specified in said notice, disinfect said premises or disinfect
or destroy said property, as the case may be: Provided,
That in the case of nursery stock, fruit or vegetables about
to be shipped or any shipment thereof, or which is offered
for sale, or held for the purpose of delivery upon any ship-
ment or sale thereof, if the officer making the inspection
shall find that only a part thereof is so affected that it
cannot be successfully disinfected, he shall state in such
notice that the owner or person in charge thereof has the
privilege of separating the same into two or more of the
following classes, to-wit, such as does not need disinfection,
such as can be successfully disinfected, and such as cannot
be successfully disinfected, and in such cases it shall be the
duty of the owner and person in charge of such property
to, within the time specified in said notice, disinfect such
nursery stock, fruit or vegetables as can be successfully

 

 
14

disinfected and destroy such as cannot be successfully dis-
infected: And provided, further, That in the case of fruit
or vegetables that cannot be successfully disinfected the
inspector may grant the owner or person in charge there-
of the privilege of manufacturing the same into by-prod-
ucts or of shipping the same to a by-product factory and
issue a permit in writing so to do, and in such case it shall
be unlawful for the person receiving such permit to sell or
dispose of such infected fruit without having first manu-
factured the same into a by-product or shipped the same
to a by-product factory, or to divert any such shipment
when made, and it shall be unlawful for the consignee of
any fruit or vegetables shipped to a by-product factory,
to sell or dispose of the same without first manufacturing
it into a by-product. It shall be unlawful for any person
to ship, deliver, sell, barter, give away or otherwise dispose
of or part with the possession of any nursery stock, fruit
or vegetable which has been found infected and condemned
until all of the requirements of said notice and order have
been complied with, and permission given in writing so
to do by an inspector.

Sec. 11. In case the owner or person in charge of any
premises or property required to be disinfected or de-
stroyed as in the previous section provided, .shall fail or
neglect to comply with the notice within the time specified
therein, the officer giving the notice shall have the right
and it shall be his duty to enter upon the premises to be

disinfected or where the personal property required to be
disinfected or destroyed is situated and perform the acts

required in such notice, or cause the same to be performed
at the cost and expense of the owner of such premises or
property as the case may be. The officer shall keep an
accurate account of such cost and expense and the same
shall be a lien upon the premises or personal property so
disinfected, which lien may be enforced by the methods
hereinafter provided. The liens in this section provided
for shall in the case of personal property have precedence
over all other liens.

 
15

Sec. 12. The officer disinfecting any personal prop-
erty may, in case the owner or person in charge shall not
pay such cost and expense, impound and sell such prop-
erty to enforce the lien of the state and collect such cost
and expense. The officer impounding personal property as
above provided shall give notice in writing that the prop-
erty is impounded which notice shall describe the property
with reasonable certainty, state where the same is im-
pounded, specify the amount of costs and expenses charged
against it and state that unless the charges are paid within
a time specified in said notice the property will be sold to
satisfy the charges against it and the transportation and
storage charges accrued, if any, and the cost of making
the sale. The officer giving such notice shall post it in a
conspicuous place upon the premises where such property
is impounded and serve the same upon the owner or upon
the person in possession or charge of such impounded
property in like manner with like effect as hereinabove in
this act provided for service of notice to disinfect. The
time within which a sale shall be had after the giving of
the notice shall not be less than ten days: Provided, That
in the case of perishable fruits or vegetables, the same may
be had immediately. Sales may be either at public auction
or private sale as in the soynd discretion of the officer may
be for the best interest of the state and the owner of
the property to be sold. The proceeds of any such sale
shall be applied first to the payment of the cost of making
the sale, second to the payment of the cost and expense
of disinfection and third to the payment of accrued trans-
portation and storage charges, if any, and the balance,
if any, shall be paid the owner or person in charge of the
property sold, upon demand. In case the proceeds of such
sale be not sufficient to pay the cost of making the sale, and
the cost and expense of disinfection, the deficiency may be
recovered from the owner of the property disinfected in an
action at law in the name of the state on the relation of the
commissioner of agriculture, and the prosecuting attorney
of the county where the property was disinfected shall,

 
16

when directed so to do by the attorney general, bring such
action for the recovery of such deficiency. The officer
making such sale shall make and keep a full and detailed
record of all acts done by him with reference to such prop-
erty, stating the name of the owner or reputed owner of
such property when known, the location thereof, the date
of inspection, the facts found upon inspection, the date
and manner of giving the notice to disinfect, the failure
of the owner or person in charge to disinfect, the disinfec-
tion by or under the direction of the officer, the cost and
expense thereof in detail, the date and manner of giving
the notice of impounding and sale, the date, place and
manner of sale, the name of the person to whom the prop-
erty was sold, the amount of the proceeds of the same and
the disposition made thereof, which record shall be signed
by the officer making the same. Upon demand of the
owner or person in charge of such property, the officer
making the sale shall furnish him with a copy of such
record verified under oath, and shall tender him the balance
of said proceeds. If no demand is made upon the officer
making such sale within thirty days from the date of sale,
or in case the balance of said proceeds is not accepted when
tendered, the officer shall file a verified copy of such record
with and remit the balance of the proceeds of such sale to
the commissioner of agriculture, who shal] retain the same
for a period of six months subject to the order of the owner
of the property sold, and if at the end of six months such
proceeds be not claimed and accepted by the owner or his
order, the same shall be turned into the state treasury.
The record required to be kept as hereinabove provided
and the verified copy thereof shall be prima facie proof of
the truth of the facts therein stated in any court in any
action or proceeding where proof of such facts is compe-
tent.

Sec. 13. It shall be the duty of the board of county
commissioners of each county at the time of making the
regular annual tax levy in each year to include a tax
upon the taxable property of such county in such an

 

7
17

amount as they shall find will produce funds sufficient to
meet the expense of inspecting and disinfecting orchards,
vineyards, berry farms, vegetable farms, nurseries, fruit
trees, vines or bushes, ornamental trees or shrubbery, hor-
ticultural plants, and packing houses, warehouses, dry
houses, store-rooms, depots, docks and other places where
fruits, vegetables or nursery stock are packed, stored,
shipped or held for shipment or delivery or offered for
sale within said county, which shall be inspected or disin-
fected by or under the direction of an inspector, which
tax shall be known as the “horticultural tax.” In esti-
mating the amount to be levied for such horticultural tax,
the county commissioners shall take into consideration the
expense of inspecting and disinfecting the above mentioned
property within said county for the ensuing year and the
amount that will be collected from levies on property dis-
infected as in this act provided. The horticultural tax -
shall be levied and collected in the same manner as other
general taxes and when collected shall be placed in the
current expense fund of said county. Until the collection
by any county of the taxes to be levied under the provisions
of this section at the next annual tax levy after the taking
effect of this act, the county commissioners of such county
are authorized and empowered to cause to be paid, by

warrants drawn upon the current expense fund of such
county, all expenses for inspecting and disinfecting prem-

ises or property within said county properly chargeable
to such county under the provisions of this act, and all
expenditures made from and warrants drawn upon the
current expense fund of any county by order of the board
of county commissioners of such county, subsequent to the
repeal of section 3133 of Remington and Ballinger’s An-
notated Codes and Statutes of Washington and prior to
the passage of this act for the purpose of paying the
cost and expense of inspecting or disinfecting premises or
property in such county as provided in this act, are hereby
validated.
Sec. 14. The cost and expense of disinfecting any nur-
sery, orchard, berry farm, vineyard or vegetable farm,

 
18

or any nursery stock, fruit trees, vines or bushes, shade
trees, ornamental trees or shrubbery or horticultural plants
growing on any premises, or any packing houses, ware-
house, dry houses, store-rooms, depots, or other premises
where nursery stock, fruits, vegetables or horticultural
products are stored, situated or being prepared or packed
for shipment or offered for sale or held for the purpose of
delivery upon any shipment or sale, may be recovered as
in this section provided. The officer disinfecting any
premises or property growing upon any premises or caus-
ing the same to be disinfected as in this act provided shall
make and keep a full and detailed record of all acts done
by him with reference to such property or premises, stating
the legal description of premises upon which property
disinfected was growing, the name of the owner or reputed
owner, the date of inspection, the facts found upon in-
spection, the date and manner of giving of notice to dis-
infect, the failure of the owner or person in charge to dis-
infect, the disinfection by or under the direction of the
officer, the cost and expense thereof in detail, which record
shall be signed by the officer making the same. In case
the cost and expense of disinfecting any premises, or the
property growing thereon, are not paid within five days
after the completion of the work of disinfecting, the officer
making such record shall make and file with the county
auditor of the county where such premises are situated
two verified copies of the record of his acts with refer-
ence to said premises and the charge against the same,
and shall also file a claim of lien against said premises for
the amount of such charges and expenses, which said
claim shall refer to said record. Upon the filing of such
verified record and claim of lien the county auditor shall
record the said claim of lien as other lien claims are re-
corded. The county auditor shall also, at the time when
said record and claim are filed, forthwith issue proper
warrants in payment for labor of men employed in the
work and fix a day for a hearing upon the report before
the board of county commissioners, which date shall not

 
19

be less than twenty days from the date of said filing and
shall prepare a notice of the filing of such record and claim
and of the date of hearing upon the same and in all proceed-
ings the county shall be deemed substituted to all the rights
of laborers paid as herein provided. Said notice shall be di-
rected to the owner, or reputed owner, and shall give notice
of the filing of said record and claim and of the amount
thereof and shall also give notice of the time and place when
and where the board of county commissioners will hear and
determine the same. The county auditor shall deliver said
notice, together with a copy thereof, to the sheriff of the
county in which said claim is filed and the sheriff shall
make service thereof in like manner and with like effect as
herein provided for the service of notice to disinfect and
shall make return of such service upon the original notice
and file the same with the county auditor before the time of
hearing of the same, and he shall also certify with said
return the amount of his fees for such service, which shall
be the same as is provided for service of summons in
civil proceedings. In case the amount of said claim, to-
gether with the amount of sheriff’s fees and auditor’s fees,
which shall be the same as is charged for the filing and
recording of other liens, is paid to the county treasurer on
or before the date of said hearing before said board of
county commissioners, the auditor shall, upon the presenta-
tion to him of a duplicate receipt of said treasurer for the
amount above specified, cancel the said lien in the records
of his office and notify the board of county commissioners
of his action in the premises. The county treasurer shall
disburse the fund received by him as above provided to the
parties entitled to receive the same according to the record
as shown in the office of the county auditor. In case the
amount of said claim, together with costs as above pro-
vided, is not paid at or before the time of the hearing be-
fore the board of county commissioners, the county auditor
shall present a verified copy of said claim and record to
the said board, which shall proceed with the hearing upon
the same and shall, if offered, hear sworn testimony con-

 
20

cerning the matter sct forth in said record and claim. The
record required to be kept by the officer disinfecting, as
hereinabove provided, and the verified copy thereof filed
with the county auditor, shall be prima facie proof of the
facts therein stated in any proceedings before the board
of county commissioners and in any court in any action
or proceeding where proof of such facts is competent or the
validity of such charges or any tax levied therefor is ques-
tioned. After the hearing as herein provided for, the
county commissioners shall make an order fixing the amount
of such claim and costs and shall order the amount so
fixed paid out of the current expense fund of said county,
and the auditor shall draw warrants for the payment of
such claim as fixed by the county commissioners. The said
order of said board fixing the amount of said claim and
costs shall be recorded by the county auditor as are other
lien claims and shall stand as a lien in favor of said county
against the premises therein described until cancelled as
herein provided. In case the amount of said lien, together
with interest thereon at the rate of six per cent per an-
num from the date of said order of said board of county
commissioners, is paid to the county treasurer of said
county on or before the first Monday in October following
the date of said order and a duplicate receipt therefor of
said treasurer is presented to said county auditor, the
county auditor shall cancel said claim of lien in the records
of his office. Payment to the county treasurer as above set
forth shall be made by presenting to said treasurer a state-
ment over the signature of the county auditor of the
amount due upon said claim together with the amount of
money shown by said statement to be due. Upon said pay-
ment being so made the treasurer shall stamp said state-
ment as paid, showing the date of said payment, and shall
file said statement so stamped in the records of his office;
he shall also issue a duplicate receipt for said payment and
shall deliver one of said receipts to the party making pay-
ment and immediately transmit one of said receipts to the
county auditor. In case the amount of said claim and

 
21

costs, together with interest at the rate of six per cent. per
annum from the date of said order of said board of county
commissioners, is not paid as hereinabove provided, on or
before the first Monday in October following the date of
said order, the board of county commissioners shall, at the
regular meeting for the levy of taxes in the month of
October following the date of said order, make an order
that the amount of such claim, costs and interest, to-
gether with a penalty of six per cent. thereon, shall be a
tax on the premises described in said claim and collected
as other taxes are collected and said last named amount
shall be added to the amount of taxes levied against said
premises for current expenses. Upon the making of said
order the county auditor shall mark the recorded order of
said board fixing the amount of said claim of lien ‘“can-
celled and amount hereof charged as taxes against the
property.” Upon the collection of said tax by the county
treasurer the same shall be credited to the current ex-
pense fund of the county.

Sec. 15. It shall be unlawful for any person to im-
port into this state, sell, barter, or otherwise dispose of or
offer for sale or have in his possession for the purpose of
sale or barter any fruit which is or has been infected with
peach mildew, peach twig borer, San Jose scale or other
insect pests or the larvae of the codling moth or peach
twig borer, and the fact that any fruit bears the mark of
any such scale insect or is worm eaten by any such larvae,
shall be conclusive evidence that the fruit is infected, within
the meaning of this section: Provided, That nothing in
this section shall be construed to prevent the grower of
such infected fruit grown within the State of Washington
from manufacturing the same into a by-product or selling
and shipping the same to a by-product factory.

Sec. 16. It shall be the duty of every person growing
or packing and selling, offering for sale or shipping in
closed boxes or packages, any fruit grown in this state, to
plainly mark the same on the outside of the box or package
with the name of the variety contained therein or with the

 
22

words “variety unknown,” the name of the place or locality
where grown and the name of the grower, or, in case of sale
or shipment through an association or organization of
growers, the name of such association and the lot number
of the grower, and, in case of apples, pears or peaches,
the net weight or the number contained in the package, and
it shall be unlawful for any person to mark, or place upon,
any such package the name of any other place or locality
than the place where such fruit was grown, except the place
to which shipped, or to falsely mark any such package
as to variety, name of grower, association or organization,
or place where grown, or to obliterate or change the
original marks on any such package or to re-mark the
same with the name of any other grower or of any other
place than that by or in which the contents were grown,
or in case such package is marked with the name of an
association or organization of growers to re-mark the
same with the name of any other association or organiza-
tion, and it shall be unlawful for any person having in his
possession for sale or offering for sale or selling any fruit
grown in this state and shipped in closed packages, to re-
pack the same in the boxes or packages of any other
grower or shipper or from any other place, or to sell or
offer for sale in closed packages any such fruit except
in the original packages, or to pack in or offer for sale
from any marked box or package any fruit other than that
originally contained or shipped therein. In addition to
the marks required to be placed upon any closed package
of fruit grown in this state, as hereinabove provided, the
grower thereof or association or organization of growers
packing the same, may mark upon the outside of such
package the grade of the fruit contained therein either
as “First Grade,” “Grade No. 1,” or “Extra Fancy,”
“Second Grade,” “Grade No. 2,” or “Fancy,” “Third
Grade,” “Grade No. 8,” or “C Grade,” or such other
designation as will indicate first, second or third quality
of fruit and “Washington Standard Pack” and it shall
be unlawful for any person to re-mark any such closed

 
23

package as a higher or superior grade than that originally
marked by the grower thereof or association or organiza-
tion packing the same, or for any person other than the
grower or association or organization packing such fruit
grown in this state to place upon any such closed package
not marked with the grade of the contents thereof any
mark or brand indicating the grade of such contents.
Provided that nothing in this section shall be construed
to apply to canned or dried fruit.

Sec. 17. It shall be unlawful for any grower thereof or
association or organization of growers packing apples
to mark the package with the grade of the contents unless
such contents shall comply with the general rules and
regulations made, adopted, issued and published from
time to time by the commissioner of agriculture, which
general rules and regulations shall define and establish the
standard for (1) “First Grade,” “Grade No. 1,” or “Extra
Fancy,” (2) “Second Grade,” “Grade No. 2,” or “Fancy,”
(8) “Third Grade,” “Grade No. 8,” or “C Grade,” and
(4) “Orchard Run,” which general rules and regulations
shall be adopted, issued and published within thirty days
after the taking effect of this act and the commissioner
of agriculture is authorized and directed to in the month
of December of each year make, adopt, issue and publish
general rules and regulations governing the packing of
apples and establishing and defining the grades thereof
for the ensuing calendar year and in adopting the same
the commissioner is authorized to consult and advise with
fruit growers, the officers of associations or organizations
of apple growers or distributors or dealers in apples.
Before making the rules and regulations for which pro-
vision is made in this section the commissioner of agricul-
ture shall provide for a public hearing of horticulturists
thereon, notice of which shall be given by mail to every
horticultural society, growers’ association or marketing
organization which shall have filed with him a notice of
its existence thirty days before the date of any such
hearing, and which shall be a resident of the State of

 
24

Washington. For the conducting of such hearing the com-
missioner of agriculture may prescribe all necessary rea-
sonable rules, but said rules must be such as to insure a
fair, full and impartial opportunity for all interested dis-
tricts to be heard. In establishing the grading rules herein

- mentioned the commissioner of agriculture shall base them

on the necessities and proprieties as shown at said hearing,
taking into consideration the tonnage of commercial fruit
in each district of the state affected by the grading rules
to be established.

Src. 18. It shall be the duty of every person within
forty-eight hours after removing any cuttings or prunings
from bacterially infected trees or plants to destroy or dis-
infect the same by burning or scorching.

Sec. 19. It shall be the duty of the proper state officials,
of the board of county commissioners of each county, of
the mayor and council or other governing officials of each
city and town and of the officers of each irrigation district
and school district to, in compliance with the provisions of
this act, cause the disinfecting of all infected trees and
shrubbery growing upon the public highways, grounds,
canals or other public property of such state, county, city,
town or district, and such county commissioners and muni-
cipal officers are hereby authorized to expend the funds
of such county or municipal corporation in carrying out
the provisions of this section, and in case of the failure
or neglect of any of the aforesaid officers to comply with
this section, compliance therewith may be compelled by
writ of mandate sued out in a superior court of competent
jurisdiction in an action begun in the name of the state
upon the relation of the commissioner of agriculture.

Sec. 20. It shall be unlawful for any person, firm or
corporation to engage in, conduct or carry on the business
of selling, dealing in or importing into this state for sale
or distribution, any nursery stock, or to act as agent,
salesman or solicitor for any nurseryman or dealer in
nursery stock or to solicit orders for the purchase of
nursery stock, without first having obtained from the

 
25

commissioner of agriculture and having in force a license
so to do, and it shall be unlawful for any person to falsely
represent that he is the agent, salesman, solicitor or repre-
sentative of any nurseryman or dealer in nursery stock. No
license shall issue until the applicant therefor shall have
paid the fee and furnished the bond, as in this act required.
The license fee shall be five dollars for nurserymen and
dealers in nursery stock and one dollar for agents, sales-
men and solicitors. All licenses shall be in the name of the
person, firm or corporation licensed, and shall show the
purpose for which issued, the name and location of the
‘nursery or place of business of the nurseryman or dealer
licensed or represented by the agent, salesman or solicitor
licensed, and no license shall be issued to any agent, sales-
man or solicitor unless the nurseryman or dealer repre-
sented shall be licensed. All licenses shall bear the date
of issue and shall expire on the first day of July next fol-
lowing the date of issue: Provided, That all licenses in
force at the time of the taking effect of this act shall con-
tinue in force during the term for which they were issued,
unless sooner revoked, and any holder of such license apply-
ing for a license under this act prior to the first day of
July next following the expiration of his former license,
shall be required to pay therefor only the proportional
part of the fee required for an annual license for the re-
maining portion of the year until the first day of July
next following.

Sec. 21. Every nurseryman or dealer in nursery stock,
applying for a license under this act shall make, execute
and file with the commissioner of agriculture a bond run-
ning to the State of Washington, in the sum of one thou-
sand dollars with surety or sureties to be approved by
the commissioner, conditioned for the faithful compliance
by the applicant with all of the provisions of this act and
the laws of the State of Washington relating to the sale,
disposition, delivery, inspection and disinfection of nursery
stock grown, dealt in, imported, sold, handled or delivered
by him during the term of the license applied for and the

 
26

term or terms of any renewal of the same, and conditioned
further that all nursery stock sold or delivered by him
during said term or terms shall be true to name, age, and
variety as represented, and free from the diseases and
pests required to be guarded against by this act.

Every licensed nurseryman or dealer in nursery stock
who shall have complied with the provisions of this section
shall be entitled, upon the expiration of his license or any
renewal thereof, by the payment of the fee of five dollars
on or before the date of the expiration of his license or any
renewal thereof, to have his license renewed for the ensuing
year ending July Ist, by the giving of a bond as herein
specified.

The cancellation or revocation of, or the withdrawal
of the sureties from, any bond filed in accordance with the
provisions of this section, shall ipso facto work a suspension
of the license of the principal of said bond and the license
of all agents, salesmen and solicitors employed by and
representing him, until such time as such principal shall
furnish a new bond to be approved by the commissioner of
agriculture.

Sec. 22. Upon complaint in writing, verified under
oath by the complainant, being made to the commissioner
of agriculture, that the holder of any license in this act
provided for has violated or failed to comply with the
provisions of this act or the laws of the State of Washing-
ton relating to horticulture, the commissioner, if in his
judgment the complaint justifies a hearing thereon, shall
serve upon the holder of such license by registered mail,
a copy of such complaint and a notice of the time and place
of hearing the same, which hearing shall not be less than
ten nor more than thirty days from the date of mailing
said notice, and shall be at such place to be determined
by the commissioner, as shall be most convenient to all the
parties to the hearing: Provided, In case the nursery and
principal place of business is within this state then hearing
shall take place in the county where the nursery or prin-
cipal place of business is located for the attendance of
witnesses.
a7

The complainant and the person complained of shall
have compulsory process to compel the attendance of wit-
nesses at such hearing, to be issued by the commissioner.
Hearings may be held by the commissioner in person or by
the assistant who shall report in writing a synopsis of the
testimony taken and his findings thereon to the commis-
sioner for his decision. If upon such hearing or report
it shall appear to the satisfaction of the commissioner that
the person complained of has violated or is violating or
failing to comply with the provisions of this act or the laws
of the State of Washington relating to horticulture, he
may revoke the license of such person, and no new license
shall issue to such person until it shall be made to appear
to the satisfaction of the commissioner that the cause of
the complaint has been removed.

From the decision of the commissioner revoking a license,
or refusing to issue a new license, an appeal shall lie to the
superior court of the county where the hearing shall have

been held.

Sec. 28. It shall be unlawful for any person to deceive
or defraud any person on the sale of any nursery stock by
substituting inferior or different varieties from those
ordered, or to wilfully or intentionally bring into this state
or to offer for sale or distribution within this state or to
ship, sell or deliver upon any sale any nursery stock that
is infected, and in case of any such deceit, fraud or sub-
stitution, the person, firm, or corporation damaged or
injured thereby shall have recourse against the bond filed
by the licensed nurseryman or dealer from whom such stock
has been purchased, for all damages sustained, which dam-
ages may be recovered at the suit of the party injured
against the nurseryman or dealer causing the damage and
the sureties on such bond in any court of competent juris-
diction.

_ Src. 24. It shall be the duty of all nurserymen and
dealers in nursery stock and all salesmen, solicitors and
agents therefor to give to every person ordering any
nursery stock a duplicate copy of such order which shall

 
28

show: (a) the name of the nurseryman from whom
ordered and the name of the solicitor, salesman or agent
taking such order: (b) the season of the order and the
date when delivery is to be made: and, (c) the number,
name, and price of each variety of tree or plant ordered.

Sec. 25. It shall be the duty of every person growing
or dealing in nursery stock to notify the commissioner of
agriculture of his, their or its intention to ship any nursery
stock from one point in this state to another or from any
point without the state to a point within the state for sale
or delivery or for planting or propagation. Such notice
shall be made in writing and in duplicate and signed by the
person giving the notice and shall show the name and ad-
dress of both the consignor and consignee, and the name
of the person or transportation company from whom the
consignee is to receive such goods, and whether such nur-
sery stock has been inspected and approved at the initial
point of shipment within this state by an horticultural in-
spector. Said notice shall be mailed not later than the
date of shipment and the duplicate thereof shall be mailed
to the horticultural inspector stationed nearest to the point
of consignment and all such shipments of nursery stock
shall be plainly marked on the outside of the package with
the words “nursery stock.” A descriptive invoice of all
goods shipped during the season shall be mailed to the com-
missioner of agriculture before the first of July following
shipment.

Sec. 26. In the event of the shipment into this state
from any point without this state of any nursery stock
by a person, firm or corporation not licensed to do business
in this state as in this act provided, it shall be the duty of
the purchaser or person receiving such nursery stock to
have the same inspected by a horticultural inspector in the
same manner as is required upon the delivery of nursery
stock sold and delivered by a licensed nurseryman or dealer
in nursery stock within this state and to pay an inspector’s
fee of ten per cent. of the invoice price of such shipment,
provided that the minimum fee for such inspection shall

 
29

be fifty cents and the actual and necessary traveling ex-
pense of the inspector making the inspection: And provided
further, That for the inspection of shipments of nursery
stock shipped to nurserymen or dealers in nursery stock
licensed under the provisions of this act to do business in
this state, no fee shall be required.

Sec. 27. Upon the arrival at its point of destination
of any nursery stock shipped into this state from another
state or country or shipped from one point within this
state to another, it shall be the duty of the freight agent,
express agent or the agent of the persons or transportation
company having such shipment in charge for delivery,
unless the same is accompanied by a certificate of inspec-
tion and approval by a horticultural inspector of this state
showing that the same was inspected and approved at the
initial point of shipment within this state, to notify the
horticultural inspector stationed nearest to the point where
said shipment is received, of the receipt of such shipment
giving the name of the consignor and consignee and stat-
ing that such shipment is ready for inspection and de-
livery. Said notification may be by telephone or telegraph,
or by written notice delivered personally to said inspector
or to some person of suitable age and discretion at his resi-
dence or office, or by mail addressed to said inspector at his
place of residence or at his office; and it shall beunlawful for
any such agent or person having such shipment in charge
to deliver the same to the consignee or to any other person
until the same shall have been inspected by a horticultural
inspector: Provided, however, That such agent shall not
be required to hold such shipment more than forty-eight
hours after notifying the inspector as aforesaid, except in
case the notice is given by mail, in which event such ship-
ment shall be held for such period beyond said forty-eight
hours as is ordinarily required for the delivery of mail to
the address of said inspector; And provided further, That
no inspection at the point of delivery shall be necessary if
the shipment is accompanied by a certificate of a horticul-
tural inspector of this state showing inspection and ap-
30

proval at the initial point of shipment within this state as
aforesaid, and upon the delivery of such shipment to the
consignee, the agent or person making the delivery shall
deliver such certificate of inspection to the consignee and
retain the duplicate to show his authority for making de-
livery without inspection. Any nurseryman or dealer in
nursery stock within this state may demand the services
of an inspector at his place of business or point of ship-
ment during the shipping season by paying four dollars
per day for his services.

Upon the arrival at its point of destination of any ship-
ment of fruit or vegetables shipped into this state from
another state or country, it shall be the duty of the freight
agent, express agent or agent or persons or transporta-
tion company having such shipment in charge for delivery,
to notify the horticultural inspector stationed nearest to
the point where said shipment is received, of the receipt
of such shipment giving the names of the consignor and
consignee, and upon the delivery of such shipment to the
consignee or his order, the agent or person making such
delivery shall demand and receive from the person to whom
such shipment is delivered a receipt therefor showing the
name and address of the consignee or his order and the
place to which said shipment is to be removed, and shall
thereupon mail said receipt to the horticultural inspector

stationed nearest to the point where said shipment is re-
ceived.

Sec. 28. No inspection of shipments of nursery stock
as provided in the last preceding section shall be made until
all transportation charges thereon have been paid: Pro-
vided, however, That the agent or person having such
shipment in charge for delivery may waive in writing the
payment of such transportation charges prior to inspec-
tion, and in case the transportation charges are not paid
or waived such shipment shall be held until the same are
paid-and inspection had.

Sec. 29. It shall be the duty of every horticultural in-
spector upon the inspection of any nursery stock found
31

free from diseases and pests, to deliver to the owner or
person in charge thereof a certificate of inspection over
his signature, showing the date of inspection and stating
that such nursery stock was not infected, which certificate,
in case inspection be made at the initial point of shipment,
shall be in duplicate, and it shall be unlawful for any per-
son to substitute for any such nursery stock so inspected
and approved, any other nursery stock not covered by said
certificate, or to ship, sell or dispose of any other nursery
stock than that actually inspected and approved, under
such certificate of inspection, provided that the inspector
may issue certificates of general inspection for shipment to
points within this state in addition to the regular certi-
ficates of inspection.

Sec. 80. Every person violating or failing to comply
with the provisions of this act shall be deemed guilty of a
misdemeanor and upon conviction thereof shall be fined in
any sum not less than $25.00. All fines imposed under the
provisions of this act shall, when collected, be paid to the
treasurer of the county where imposed and remitted to the
state treasurer and placed to the credit of the general
fund.

Sec. 81. Whenever any person is about to or threatens
to violate any provision of this act, the commissioner of
agriculture may, with the advice of the prosecuting at-
torney of the county where such violation is threatened or
of the attorney general, begin an action in the superior
court of such county in the name of the state upon the
relation of such commissioner to restrain and enjoin such
threatened violation, and in case such prosecuting attorney
shall fail-or refuse to begin such action upon the request
of the commissioner, the same may be begun by or under
the direction of the attorney general. In such action no
bond shall be required for the issuance of a restraining
order or injunction, but the state shall be liable for any
damages occasioned by the unlawful suing out of such
restraining order or injunction.

 
32

Sec. 32. The commissioner of agriculture, the assistant
commissioner and all horticultural inspectors are hereby
authorized and empowered to seize and hold for use as evi-
dence any article or thing found in the possession of or
used, held for shipment, shipped, offered for sale or sold
by any person in violation of any of the provisions of this
. act or of any law relating to horticulture, and to serve
and enforce compliance with any restraining order or writ
of injunction or mandate or any other writ issued by any
court under the provisions of this act.

Src. 33. It shall be the duty of all clerks, bookkeepers,
express agents, railroad officials, employees, or employees
of common carriers to render to the commissioner of agri-
culture and his inspectors all the assistance in their power
in tracing, finding, or discovering the presence of any
article named in this act. Any refusa] or neglect on the
part of such clerks, bookkeepers, express agents, railroad
officials, employees, or employees of common carriers to
render such friendly aid to assist in the carrying out of
the provisions of this act shall constitute a misdemeanor.

Sec. 34. That all acts incorporated and enumerated
in the following schedule, and all acts and parts of acts in
conflict with the provisions hereof, are hereby repealed.

SCHEDULE.

Sections 8075, 3079, 3080, 3083, to 3110, inclusive;
3118, 3115, 3116, 3117, 3119, 3120, 3122 to 3127, in-
clusive; 3131 and 3134 to 3139, inclusive of Remington
and Ballinger’s Annotated Codes and Statutes of Wash-
ington.

Sec. 35. This act is necessary for the immediate preser-
vation of the public peace, health, and safety and shall
take effect immediately.

Passed the House March 1, 1915.
Passed the Senate March 8, 1915.
Approved by the Governor March 19, 1915.

 

wy
NLY

ROOM USE oO

4
Hi

(*

5, -
Qe);
Wwe a’ 2 f

q

Ch

 

,

kA

is

 
 

af,
lowe att ORS

 
 

 
 

 

   
 

TMi

 

>

i al at el et et

—_——
ie tad A

 

ans