THIS STUDY ANALYZED THE GENERAL BEHAVIOR OF ORCHARDISTS IN THE OKANAGAN VALLEY, BRITISH COLUMBIA, AND THE FACTORS RELATED TO ADOPTION OF INNOVATIONS IN THIS SETTING. FIVE PERCENT SAMPLES WERE DRAWN FROM 19 DISTRICTS CONSISTING OF 2,721 ORCHARDS, AND DATA WERE GATHERED BY RESIDENT AGRICULTURISTS. THE DATA WERE ANALYZED BY STAGE IN THE ADOPTION PROCESS IN ADOPTER CATEGORIES OF--(1) INNOVATORS, EARLY ADOPTERS, AND BY INDIVIDUAL CHARACTERISTICS SUCH AS AGE, EDUCATIONAL LEVEL, INCLUDING ADULT EDUCATION EXPERIENCE AND TENURE, (2) COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION, AND ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS, INCLUDING SIZE OF THE ENTERPRISE AND FINANCIAL STATUS, AND (3) COMMUNITY ATTITUDES ABOUT THE ACCEPTANCE OR REJECTION OF INNOVATIONS AS PERCEIVED BY THE RESPONDENTS. THE ORCHARDISTS HAD ACCESS TO NEW INFORMATION FROM COMMERCIAL ENTERPRISES IN EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES, COOPERATIVE MARKETING ORGANIZATIONS, A FEDERAL RESEARCH STATION, BUT MOST SYSTEMATICALLY FROM THE DISTRICT HORTICULTURISTS, WHO PROVIDED PERSONALIZED SERVICES, CONDUCTED MEETINGS, AND PLANNED INSTRUCTIONAL PROGRAMS. SEVEN INNOVATIONS PRESENTED THROUGH A 1964 TV CHAUTAUQUA OR INTRODUCED PREVIOUSLY WERE COMPARED. EARLY ADOPTERS SHOWED ABOVE AVERAGE ECONOMIC STATUS AND EDUCATIONAL PARTICIPATION, A HIGHER PROPORTION OF FULL-TIME ORCHARDISTS, GREATER CIVIC PARTICIPATION, AND MORE USE OF MASS MEDIA, PERSONAL CONTACTS, AND AGRICULTURAL AGENCIES. THIS DOCUMENT IS ALSO AVAILABLE FROM UNIVERSITY EXTENSION, THE UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA, VANCOUVER 8, B.C. FOR $1.50. (LY)