New-York tribune., 1874-09-07
THE VALLEY or The VIRGEN.

THE VALLEY OF The HIRGEN
ppocprss SINCE FREMONT's EXPLORATION IN 1874
A GARDEN IN ST. GEORGIA. GARDENERS EsrI-
MATE OF THE GOVERNMENT SEED DIsrRiBO-
TIoy-HARIY SETTLEMENT AND PRESENT CON-
DTrIoN OF THE COUNTRY.
fyRoM AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNEI
ST, GEORGE, UTAH, July 15.-The valley OF
the yirgen Southern Utah. is the Florida OF that Ier
ritory but the sea that tempers It's Winter climate Is
sea of sand and stretching In broken desert wastes
to the California Gulf. High mountain ranges TO the
north and east receive more less coplous deposit OF
Winter snow from which the parched valleys below
derive their necessary supply OF Summer water ana al
most equally grateful cool currents OF night ar All
the conditions are favorable to the development OF
scattered cases. adapted to peculiar mode OF cutiya'
ton. and somewhat isolated style Of civilized haba-
tion tits now 80 years since Fremont on his adyen
turous return trip from California In the Spring OF 1884,
passed through this district then infested by hostile
Indians. A few native plants hastily gathered on tho
route showed peculiar character Of vegetation, which
gave little prospect Of future horticultural development
Now within u years. Mormon enterprise pushng IN TINS
direction has transformed these saline wastes into fertile
garden spots, In which temperate and suo-tropioai
fruits vie In the uxuriance OF Summer growth ana Au
tumn fruitage. in order to get clear idea OF tho
reader accompany me in stroll through the garden
of the pioneer horticultural OF this district Mr. j. f.
Johnson.
HORTICULTURE IN UTAH.
First on terrace exposed to the direct rays OF the
sun Is choice collection OF native cactuses, such as
would be the envy Of Eastern cuvators. Among these
IA the Opuatia indeed, well guarded
with barbed thorns, which would be perfectly saIe from
ruthless hands even out Of sight OF the policeman OF
Central Park Hardly inferior to this Ia brlancy aud
equally well guarded with spnes. Is the pi!piehowereu
Cereas (Cereus Er0elmanni which, in addition to ts
choice flowers yields q rich fruit. pink-lowered
Turks-head worthiy commentaries the horticultural
services Of Mr. Johnson, under the botanical name OF
Eehnocactus Johnsoni. To set OFF this array Of armed
flowers are placed several stems OF the short-leaved
Spanish bayonet yucca beroifd which In the deserts
TO the South form tree of respectable sze and make up
forests Of strange oriental aspect The century plant
also here by the smallest known species OF
Agare lately described In botanical report as Agace
Utahenss As appropriate background to this occi-
dental display thrifty growths Of the China
tree and the oriental tamarisk descent brings us to
the inviting shade OF the flower garden shade being
here essential to successful growth Of the ordinary
class OF garden flowers few native plants scat
tered here and there set off the more familiar garden
FORMS conspicuous among which is the intense scarlet
Penstenon and a yellow howered Enoherd On an
adjoining terrace grapevnes Of luxurant foliage bear
en.houses, such as "Black Hamburg" Muscat OF
Alexandria" &C. The Concord, so highly priced at the
East is here regarded nsipd ami worthless On the
lowest terrace is placed the orchard proper thicky set
with rows Of apples pears pums, aprcots, nectarnes
and peaches, all seeming equally at home The
intervening spaces occupied by avenues OF lucerne
which, with deep tap roots does not interfere with
the growth OF the trees besides serving TO keep out
noxious weeds. This invaluable plant furnishes the
staple forage crop of this section, frequently afford
ing five cuttings in the course OF the year Equally
at home in the orchard shade Is prOfuse CROWN
of straw berry plants OF fruit trees the first In bearing
is the apricot rpenng in June, quickly followed
by cherry, plum, early peach, aud neetarne Grapes
rpen IN August and continue TIL October. Pears aud
apples in regular succession from early till late, afford
abundant Winter supplies. AS yet few injurious insects
or diseases affecting the different varieties on rut nave
been experienced Tae ordeal Oh ate spring Iros,s IS
tes such apcots and almonds, but does not in1ure
type OF the present condition OF advanced horueu
in this region, we may form some estimate OF Wat
may eventually attain when enlarged experience has
fully tested It's capabilities.
GOVERNMENT SEEDS AT DISCOUNT.
1t rather amusing to note here the estimate placed
Oh the seed distribution carried on under the present
management OF the Agricultural Department in Wash
ingon. happened TO be present when some seed par
cells from this received by an intelligent
practical gardener in hastily running them over his
gratitude broke forth the following significant words
"Wny do they keep sending such rashi IL any one
would plant such worthless seeds In garden should
be tempted to set my dog on him." Being appealed to
for expanaton could only cite the fact well known
at the East, that the Washington distribution made
up largely refuse sweepngs OF the seed shops Of
Paris and New-YOrk, " bought dear and sold cheap"
This. however satisfactory explanation, Is not
altogether an agreeable reflection when consider
how much good might be done by tudicOus dlstribu
ton OF seeds in such remote districts, and how sadly
the Government agent specially appointed for this work
fails to meet any reasonable expectation.
In the early settlement OF 81. George, dating back
only the year 1862 very little promise held out OF
speedy realization OF the comforts and refnements of
civilized life. The town site was a waste overgrOwn
with greasewood, rabbit-bush. and chapparal, while
and there open tracts OF ground mosened by the
ledges only afforded growth Of salt
The Valley OF the Santa Clara adjoining, subject to
alterations OF flood and drouth, while the fertizing
waters OF the Virgen lay in depressed bed that could
only be made available for irrigation by expensive
system OF ditching Perseverance,, however, gradually
overcame these serious obstacles, the spring
were cleared and their united issues carefully col
ected into clear running streams conducted along each
side OF principal streets and distributed to the ad
along the water courses. and soon hourishing gar
dens sprung up on every side. Abundance or rock
already quarried by the cyclopean forcos Of vol
canic disturbance furnished material for sub
stantial foundations for permanent buildngs con-
yenenty placed adobe soil strongly impregnnted with
gypsum supplied sun-dried brick OF @ close texture
only costly article required for building purposes being
only procurable from the hlRh adjoining mountain
disadvantages 1t is remarkable that much has been
accomplished within such short PERIOD
Already the question is being agtated What is to be
done with the Surplus fruit croDi Mining camps are
too remote and uncertain TO afford trustw worthy
ket Canning and winemaking require time and capi-
tai to yield returns, while dried FRUIT for which the
very extensive scale. Under the circumstances, COM
bnton Of all these Is resorted to with variable
results awaiting the solution which time, improved
methods, facilities for transportation and Development
of the adjoining mining and grazing districts will
eventually ouer