ONE VAST ORCHARD

Taranaki Herald, Volume LX, Issue 143839, 13 July 1912, Page 7

ONE VAST ORCHARD

There was such a heavy demand for nursery-grown fruit trees in Washingtop this spring that orders for 3,000,000 trees are unfilled (says a Seattle message). The season is too far advanced for further planting. The immense increase in acreage planted to fruit in Washington used up all the supplies of Western nurseries, and hundreds of orchardists will have to let their land remain idle until fall. It is estimated by State Fruit Inspector W. E. Smith that more than 5,000,000 apple trees were set out this spring in this State. Peach, pear, and cherry trees number about 3,000,000, and the number of small fruit set out over the State cannot be compiled, but it was immense. The high prices obtained for fruit of all kinds the last few years has encouraged extensive planting. Land that three years ago supported range cattle and pastured sheep will next fall produce its quota of fruit. The time allotted for apples and pears to come into profitable bearing in this State is three years. In the meantime the space between the rows of trees is utilised for smaller fruits and potatoes. The potato crop will be heavy this year because of this fact. The cost of planting orchards in the nqrt'-west is low, due to the climate, which permits planting to go on in midwinter, when labour is cheap.