AGRICULTURAL HISTORY OF THE BITTERROOT

The first successful apple orchard was planted in 1868 and by 1890 there were 6,000 trees in the valley. By 1900 there were more than 300,000 apple trees and by 1913, nearly all the benchland on the east and west sides of the valley was in orchards, having been planted by investment companies that hoped to lure buyers of land. ................
................