Snohomish County, Washington - Chapter 1: Agriculture, 1926 (part 2 of 2)

Fruit Growing

There never was any question as to successful fruit growing in Snohomish County. As soon as the first orchards came into bearing it was found that climatic and soil conditions were of the very best for the production of perfect fruit. With such conditions, one is at first surprised that fruit growing did not become one of the chief industries of the county at an early date. An obstacle was in the lack of a market. Every settler was soon able to raise more fruit than his own family could possibly use, shipping facilities were poor for such perishable commodities and there were no canneries. With such conditions prevalent, there was little incentive to raise fruits on a large scale. With the coming of the railroads and the fruit market opened by the fast growing city of Everett, there was more inducement for fruit growers. In 1892 there was much interest shown in the planting of orchards in the vicinity of Marysville, Seymour Shoults planting more than seven hundred trees and others importing young trees from New York. Almost the first mention of the cultivation of strawberries as a commercial crop is found in the Snohomish Democrat of May 5, 1892. In September of this year, R. M. Mitchell and M. Swartout bought ten acres a short distance from Everett for a. fruit ranch, and cranberry culture was said to be developing into an important industry at Haller City in 1893. Officers of the state board of horticulture came to Snohomish County in May, 1894, to stimulate the organization of a branch association, and they labored so successfully that a meeting was called in Snohomish and the society was formed, both men and women being eligible to membership. In December, 1894, the Skykomish farmers organized a horticultural society at Sultan with a membership of twenty-one, and a county organization was later effected. On April 27, 1895, a meeting called by the county society was held at Snohomish to consider the project of erecting a cannery, but with no immediate results. The first shipment of strawberries from Seattle to the east in carload lots was made in the summer of 1895, and proved so successful that the enterprise was extended to the shipment of cherries and other fruit. It was stated that the Seattle shippers were willing to pay good prices and that there would no longer be a legitimate excuse for growers to let fruit remain unpicked for want of a market. The verdict of eastern buyers was that Puget Sound fruit was very fine, but they complained about the careless manner of packing. While some very fine specimens of different fruits were exhibited from time to time, fruit culture as a commercial proposition was almost unknown in Snohomish County prior to 1900. There was, on the other hand, rapid development along other lines. Hay ceased to be the chief crop and G. D. Horton reported in 1890 that he had seen one hundred binders at work on the tideland ; nevertheless, when Rogers and Thrall brought a new threshing machine to Snohomish in August, 1894, it was quite a novelty, and a local newspaper said that some of their people had never seen such a machine before. The Haller City Times of September 26, 1895, told that D. S. Baker had brought samples of corn and wheat in order to prove that they could be successfully grown in that section, and in connection with this it was stated that farmers were buying grain to feed their chickens and pigs. The fact that the tidelands would raise enormous crops of oats had already been established. In 1892, D. M. Herron, living eleven miles northeast of Snohomish, sent a stool of oats to the world's fair. This consisted of ten heads from eleven to twenty-one inches long, and was raised on the upland with no artificial fertilization. E. Hoem also exhibited samples of timothy heads twelve inches long in 1893.

Poultry Raising

The first mention of a Snohomish County farm as a "chicken ranch'? was in January 24, 1894, when J. W. Mann, living south of Sultan, offered the free use of ten acres to John Winter for a poultry ranch, saying that he believed it would pay. The record does not show that this offer was accepted, but in March it was stated that Martin Evarts had started a chicken ranch at Trafton. Very little mention of poultry raising as an industry was made in the public prints of the county during the '90s, but in an issue of a Snohomish newspaper in January, 1899, there appeared the following: "If one may judge by the local market, the farmers of this valley do not keep enough chickens, for when you inquire at the stores for eggs, you frequently receive the answer, 'none on hand.' So often is this the case that people get discouraged and seldom call for eggs, the farmers' patronage being thus reduced. There certainly ought to be an abundance of eggs produced by our farmers to keep the town well supplied, at least." Considering the millions of eggs shipped annually from this county at present, it would appear that the industry was very much in its infancy in 1899, and that immense progress has been made. There was much advancement in live stock production during these years. A Clydesdale Horse Association was formed in 1890, and there are frequent mentions of the importation of pure bred horses, cattle and sheep.

Diking And Ditching

A very important part of agricultural development during this period was the large amount of diking and ditching done. The contract to dike Ebey Island was let by the county commissioners November 14, 1891, for about $40,000. This called for 116,000 yards of dike, and it was estimated that the land would be worth at least $500 an acre. This enterprise was completed in October, 1892. Unfortunately, this was not carried through without charges of graft being made and largely sustained by facts. The taxpayers of the district resisted payment in 1894, charging fraud with the connivance of former county commissioners, who were said to have shared profits on a commission basis. Later a grand jury investigation was made, the report stating fraud had been committed but that proof sufficient to convict would be difficult to obtain, and that, by that time, the statute of limitations would prevent successful prosecution. Lewis McCallister, O. S. Young, D. Cavelero, E. Bast and Sons, Everett Land Company, South Everett Land Company, and Land and River Improvement Company were among the parties to this action. The farmers near Arlington took action in 1893 for the construction of a ditch from the marsh near Arlington to Funk's Slough. In January, 1895, Marshland farmers decided to protect their lands from overflow. The county commissioners agreed to furnish piles and piledriver and each farmer furnished his share of the labor and expense. Seattle capitalists proposed to build a dike from Fiddler's Bluff to Lowell taking land in payment, and throughout the county there was great activity along these lines. An important colonization plan was that of H. Ellens of Seattle in March, 1895. He purchased 640 acres of logged land from the Stinson Company, divided it into small tracts and sold it to a colony of Hollanders, who came in the winter of 1895, and became very successful farmers and highly respected citizens. The first dike in the Marshland vicinity was built by Rucker Bros. in February, 1894. This dike had a seventeen-foot base, and was eight feet high.

Farmers Alliance

No account of agricultural life in Snohomish County during this period would be complete without feference to the organization of the Farmers Alliance which swept the county in the early "80s. One of the first branches of the lhance was organized in March, 1890, by farmers in the vicinity of Ehey Slough, the officers being: President, H. G. York; vice president, V. G. Mack; secretary, G. D. Smith; treasurer, S. -\. Howe. Branches at Fernwood, Marshland and Riverside were organized during the first months of 1891, and a grand Alliance picnic was held south of Sultan in June. At this time a county Alliance was organized with the following officers: J. A. Davis, president; A. H. Eddy, vice president; C. S. Shook, secretary; J. A. Austin, treasurer; J. W. Kaye and -\. H. Eddy, lecturers; T. Davis and H. B. Reynolds, doorkeepers; C. Haskell, sergeant-at-arms.

One of the first granges of the Patrons of Industry was organized in the neighborhood called "The Burn" near Arlington in May, 1892, with twenty-three members. By the spring of 1893, the Alliance was strongly entrenched throughout the county with local lodges in nearly every rural locality. A county convention was held at Snohomish, April 26, 1893, and J. A. Davis, of Marshland, James Burton, of Snohomish, and John McDonald, of Edmonds, were elected delegates to the state convention. 'The officers of the Snohomish Farmers :Alliance and Industrial Union elected in July, 1893, were Dan Parmenter, president; J. P. Kessner, vice president; I. Partee, secretary; Albert Burey, treasurer. The Alliance reached the height of its popularity and influence in 1894. It contributed largely to the populist movement which gained control of the county and the state in 1896, but the Alliance, itself, was rather lost sight of in the political excitement which it had helped to create. A large convention of the Alliance was held in July, 1894, at Wallace. The officers present were: President, H. G. Chase; vice president, John Lee; secretary, Lewis Partee; steward, William Bates. J. A. Davis, W. 1. Illman and H. G. Chase were chosen as delegates to the state convention, which met at Seattle. One of the foremost rural communities in the county was that at Marshland, and its literary society became known throughout the county. These organizations by the Farmers Alliance and the Grange stimulated community spirit and class consciousness among the farmers. One beneficial result was seen when the settlers on Kellogg Marsh and surrounding districts decided in January, 1898, to erect a Union Hall for social, literary and church purposes. An association to hold a county fair was organized at Snohomish in 1890 and reorganized in 1892, but it did not meet with great success. Little was done in the way of a county fair until 1899, when an association was organized at Everett, with officers as follows: J. E. Bell, president; T. A. Garrigue, vice president; Dan Currie, secretary; A. J. Agnew, treasurer. A tract of thirty-five acres was secured near Hewitt Avenue and a half-mile race track was constructed.

A fair was held in October, 1899, concerning which the newspaper comment read: "While the county fair held at Everett this week was not attended as largely as it might have been, and was withal in quite an embryonic state, yet it was the beginning of what will undoubtedly become a very important institution."

Census Of 1890

The census of 1890 gave Snohomish County a total population of 15,436, which was a gain of 181.3 per cent in ten years. The statement made by the county assessor in -\ugust, 1895, gave statistics as follows: number of farms, 2,450; acres upland, 138,354; acres bottomland, 55,060; acres of timber, 360,042: prairie, none; coal land estimated, 2,000 acres; mineral patents, 897; mineral claims not patented,

Taken all in all, the progress of agriculture during this decade was very satisfactory. "The experimental stage was largely passed. The large increase in population and the introduction of great industries provided a steady home market, and the foundations were well laid for the marvelous development which has taken place since 1900.

Dairying Today

In the agricultural pursuits of the county, dairying outranks all other lines of farming endeavor. Reliable statistics for the year 1920 showed that there were 27,544 dairy cattle in the county, having a valuation of over $2,300,000. Only one other county in the state in that year boasted of a greater value of dairy products than those produced in Snohomish County. The value of these products was $2,946,574. Each passing year records increases in the dairy figures and values for the county. This is an ideal dairy country, with mild winters, long seasons of good pasture, and an operation cost comparing most favorably with other localities. The county is the home of four large condensing plants, eight creameries, and half a dozen ice cream plants, which offer convenient local markets and simplify the troubles of the dairyman. Statistics show that the average production per cow in the county is 6,000 pounds, which is one of the highest figures for any dairying community of the nation.

Berry Growing Increases

Within the past few years berry growing has received increased attention in many parts of the county. In 1922 Snohomish County ranked third in the state in the acreage and production of berries. Since that time this acreage has been more than trebled. Impetus to this line of farming has been given by the establishment of modern canneries and through the codperative berry growers' marketing association of the state. Particular attention is being given to growing strawberries, bush and trailing blackberries, loganberries and raspberries. Small berry farms are increasing in numbers in many sections of the county. The largest berry farm in the northwest, the Great Northern farm, is located in Snohomish County. Records show that average strawberry yields are 300 crates per acre; loganberries, two to three tons per acre, and blackberries, four to eight tons per acre.

Miller Orchard

Snohomish County is the home of the largest pear orchard in the state. This is the 200-acre tract of R. B. Miller, near Startup. This orchard 1s now ten years old, and has successfully demonstrated the fact that pears can be raised here as a paying proposition. Throughout the county there are now over 120,000 bearing fruit trees, including apple, cherry, prune and plum trees. Climatic and soil conditions seem to be especially conducive to the health and growth of fruit trees. This is well illustrated by what is said to be the largest cherry tree in the United States, which is proudly rearing its branches skyward on the Brown &

Son farm near Snohomish. 'This tree, four and a half feet in diameter, is fifty-four feet high, and its limbs have a total spread of 115 feet. It yields as high as three tons of delicious fruit from what can be reached even with the tallest ladders, and the balance is gratefully allowed to remain unmolested. It is claimed that this tree was planted over sixty-five years ago, by one of the early pioneer settlers of that era. Nearby is a pear tree, seventy feet high, which gives evidence of being as old as its neighbor, the cherry tree.

Poultry raising is another source of wealth to the county, and is an industry that is drawing the active interest of new recruits each year. With favorable climatic conditions and ready markets, many farmers rely upon the chicken business for their income; and many modern poultry farms are to be found within the confines of the county. One of the largest poultry plants in America 1s located at Alderwood Manor, where the Puget Mill Company operates its $250,000 demonstration farm. In the neighborhood of this farm the company has platted over 22,000 acres of logged-off land into small tracts for poultry and small fruit farms.

Dairying, poultry raising, berry and fruit growing, and general farm crops, gifts of a bountiful mother nature, are adding to the material wealth of the county each year; and residents are developing these pursuits to material gain. As nature provided our early pioneers with virgin timber, game and mining resources to aid them in establishing a new empire and to add to their wealth, so, even now, that same guiding hand is turning the same land, freed from the stumps of the devastated forests, into an agency that means continued prosperity, and, perhaps, even in a much greater degree. Through the agencies of good roads, bringing extensive tourist travel, advertising, ideal climate, unsurpassed scenery, and ideal conditions, newcomers are seeking Snohomish County as a future place of residence ; and among this stream of arrivals agriculture claims its just share. By the time that the fir tree, the hemlock, the cedar and the spruce - upon which the success of the county was built - shall be more of a curiosity than a business asset - by that time agriculture will undoubtedly be the dominant factor in the maintenance of one of the most prosperous sections of the great Puget Sound country.

County Agent'S Review

Tt is a pleasure to include in this history an article written especially for it by Arnold Z. Smith, County Agent, giving the status of present day agriculture in Snohomish County. There is no better authority on the subject than Mr. Smith, who has proven himself an invaluable aid to the farmers of this county. His review of present day conditions is as follows:

Agriculture in Snohomish County is a comparatively new industry. While some farming has been done in the county for many years, the industry showed very little growth or development before 1900. According to the 1900 census report, there were 1,024 farms, comprising 97,507 acres, 23,371 acres of which were classified as improved land in farms. In 1910, by the same authority, the number of farms had increased to 1,813, with 118,328 acres in farms, 34,126 acres of which were improved. This shows an increase of about 77 per cent in the number of farms, and an increase of about 21 per cent in the area -in farms in the tenyear period. In 1920, there were 3,095 farms, comprising 151,584 acres, of which 53,410 acres were classified as improved land. .An increase of about 70 per cent in the number of farms and an increase of 29 per cent in the area in farms was made during this ten-year period. In 1925, the number of farms was given as 4,740 and the area in farms as 168,528 acres. An increase of over 53 per cent in the number of farms over the five-year period indicates the rapid development taking place. A glance at the increase of farm values of the county also shows.a very substantial and steady growth. In 1900, the total value of all farm property amounted to $3,379,000. In 1910 this figure had increased to $13,346,000, and for 1920 the figure given was $27,607,000; while for the next five-year period it was $33,279,000. There is every indication that the past rate of development will be maintained, if not bettered in the future.

The total value of the agricultural crop in the county in 1924 was $8,500,000. A great deal of this development can be directly attributed to the successful formation and operation of the several farmers' coOperative organizations. Snohomish County dairymen have their own codperative dairy association. This was organized in 1917 and at present represents a large part of the dairymen of the county. W. G. Grimm was chosen as the first president and manager, and he has held that position since. The first attempt at organization was made a few years previous. The first board of directors consisted of John Lee, ed Holcomb, Iver Thomle, J. A. Gitteau and Gilbert Ovale. John Lee was the first president. "Two years later capital stock was increased. The hoard at present consists of W. G. Grimm, as president and manager, Gilbert Qvale as vice president, Herman Steffen, ALG. Zeibell and J. A. Woolworth. The poultry people also have their own marketing association. .\ branch station of the Washington Cooperative Egg and Poultry Association is located at Everett and a receiving station of the same cooperative organization is located at .\lderwood Manor. The Everett station was started about five years ago as a receiving station, but the business grew rapidly and the receiving station was made into a branch station late in 1922. J. H. Guffy was the first manager of the branch station. The Alderwood Manor station was established in 1924, with Mr. J. M. Scott as manager. In 1926, two cooperative chick hatcheries were organized. One of these was organized with headquarters at Marysville, the other with headquarters at Everett. The berry and fruit industry has been established for many years, but had its largest development during 1920 and 1921. C. J. Stuart of Monroe was one of the pioneers in the berry growing industry, and his work is being carried on by his son, George P., on the forty-acre fruit and berry farm at Monroe. Tree fruits, except for the home orchard, have not made much progress, except in the case of sweet and sour cherries, and, in a limited way, pears. R. B. Miller's pear orchard, consisting of about 200 acres of plantings, varying 1n age from five years to fourteen years, 1s outstanding, not alone in the county, but the state as well. The berry growers of the county are looking forward to the near future when they will have an organization of their own.

J. G. Robinson Lettuce Farms had about 135 acres of land planted to lettuce and other truck crops. Bulbs were also being grown on a commercial scale in 1924, although many bulbs were grown in the home garden before this. Island Belle grapes are also being grown to quite a degree. The plantings of grapes are small, but have proven that grapes are a horticultural crop to be figured on by growers. One of the biggest plantings is that of J. J. Robinson at Edmonds, set out four years ago. Bert Manning at Lake Stevens also has a very profitable planting of these grapes, as has E. W. Black of Everett. The production of honey is another thing many farmers are doing as a part of their farming operations. The beekeepers have their own cooperative organization which looks after their interests. This was organized in 1921. The growing of peas for the cannery is another phase of the industry just started in 1924. Growing garden seeds was started in a limited way in 1925 and the acreage was increased in 1926. Snohomish County has cooperated with the U. S. Department of Agriculture and the State College of Washington in maintaining a County Extension office since 1917.

Inspection Service

In addition to the foregoing excellent review by the county agent, mention should be made that the state of Washington district horticultural inspection service for the five northwest Washington counties maintains headquarters in Everett, the counties being Snohomish, Skagit, Island, San Juan and Whatcom. It is one of the largest of the eleven districts in the state. EK. D. Hunter is the district horticultural inspector, and has three county inspectors under his supervision, including E. D. Reynolds, inspector for Snohomish County, whose predecessors included W. E. Johns, now in charge at Kennewick, Wash., and M. J. Forsell, who retired from the position November 1, 1924. J. M. Eakle was the first district inspector, succeeded by C. O. Weiss, Mr. Hunter's immediate predecessor. Approximately 1,0CO acres of berries are at this time grown in the county. About 5,000 Island Belle grape vines were in bearing in 1926, according to unconfirmed reports, and eighteen individuals or farms have taken up flower bulb growing on a commercial scale, chiefly in the vicinities of Marysville, Edmonds, Stanwood, Silver Lake and Granite Falls, the bulbs grown including narcissi, tulips, hyacinths, crocuses, lilies, gladiol, irises and dahlias. J. G. Robinson of Monroe has 130 acres of lettuce and broccoli (May cauliflower), and the railroad company has provided a complete pre-cooling, packing and shipping warehouse.

Everett Fruit Products Company, American Packing Company, Everett ; Sunnybrook Cannery, Snohomish, and Lien Bros. Cannery, Stanwood, are the principal fruit and vegetable packing concerns.

Dairy products, with 20,485 dairy cows and 9,897 other dairy cattle, yielded the greatest crop value in 1924, $3,025,000; field crops were next with $2,750,000; poultry next with $1,500,000; fruits, $500,000, and miscellaneous, $125,000, according to County Agent Smith's estimate for that year.

Ieducational and material cooperation have within the last twenty years reached a high state of development among the farmers and fruit growers of Snohomish

County, exemplified in successful operation and profitable results by such mutual organizations as the Snohomish County Dairymen's Association, the Snohomish County Poultry Association and the Snohomish County Fruit Growers Association. The original inspiration to this advancement is largely credited to the earlier farm educational work and publications of the Department of Agriculture, the farm extension service of the State College of Washington, followed by the employment of trained farm experts as county agents. and horticultural specialists, 'but in a great measure these developments have been brought about by the farmers themselves, mostly or at least considerably through the lectures and dliscussions featuring the farm community meetings of the Granges, the local or settlement units of the Patrons of Husbandry, a movement in which the farmers of Snohomish County have taken a prominent part. At this time, 1926, there are twenty subordinate.Grange organizations and thirteen Grange hall buildings in Snohomish County, while the active membership at this time is 1,009, and there is - one subordinate Juvenile Grange, at Greenwood, having a membership of twentyone.

Washington State Grange was organized September 10, 1889, and incorporated March 25, 1921, being maintained by the Pomona Granges of the several counties. Snohomish County Pomona Grange is composed at this time of the strongest county Grange unit in the Puget Sound country, and the county ranks third in membership in the entire state, Lewis County being first with 1,280 members, Clark County second with 1,104, and Snohomish third with 1,009. Of the neighboring counties, Skagit has only 170, King 933, Kitsap 255 and Whatcom 877. Membership in good standing in Snohomish County Pomona Grange increased from 241 in 1924 to 255 in 1925. Pomona Grange was first organized at a meeting held in Snohomish, March 9, 1909, the instituting officer being the late Charles E. Flint of Whatcom County, then deputy master of the State Grange. The first officers elected were: W.H. Wanser of Snohomish, master; T. D. Davis of Marysville, overseer; \W. E. Cady of Everett, lecturer; E. J. Stevens of Monroe, steward ; P. D. Webb of Everett, assistant steward; Fred Holcomb of Snohomish, chaplain; Fred Funk of Marysville, treasurer; J. A. Winston of Monroe, secretary; R. Townsend of Maltby, gatekeeper: Sister T. N. Richards of Snohomish, Ceres; Inva Neilsen of Marysville, Pomona; Susie Hayes of Marysville, Flora; G. A. Plummer of Snohomish, lady assistant steward.

Kellogg Marsh Grange No. 136, organized by C. N. Hogan February 27, 1903, is the oldest subordinate Grange in the county; Henry Oftebro is the present master, Marysville, Route 1. The youngest is Bryant Grange No. 791, organized by A. G. Zetbeli September 23, 1922; the present master is E. A. Mohler, Bryant. The twenty Granges, with their numbers and latest reported membership, are: Kellogg Marsh No. 136, 135 members; Fidelity No. 206, 36; Fern Bluff No. 267, 37; Garden City No. 280, 188: Tualco No. 284, 34; Monroe No. 294, 116; White House No. 303, 20; Hall's Lake No. 306, 48; Twin Valley No. 339, 13; French Creek No. 396, 33; Arlington No. 528, 34; Greenwood No. 644, 69; Lookout No. 650, 15; South Lake Stevens No. 690, 34; Mount Wheeler No. 696, 69; Mukilteo Heights No. 713, 19; Victoria No. 761, 27; North Creek Valley No. 769, 43; Sisco Heights No. 787, 26; Bryant No. 791, 13. Kellogg Marsh Grange remained the only one in the county for a period of more than four years, when Fidelity Grange No. 206 was organized at Marysville by the late Charles E. Cline of Lynden, Whatcom County, April 29, 1907. The Grange halls constitute community centers not only for social intercourse and entertainment, but for general assemblies called to discuss and consider the more practical and essential problems of the community and district. Several of them accommodate the annual Grange fairs, which have come to be considerable auxiliaries of the big Snohomish County Fair at Granite Falls, the tenth of which was a noteworthy exposition of the products of the county and was held September 23, 24, 25, 26, 1926, and the North Pacific Fair and Live Stock Exhibition, the first of which was held at Silver Lake Show Grounds, August 25-29, 1926, five days.