Eureka daily sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1871-1887, 1883-09-09
NEVADA


Osn Very Remarkable PrOdnc.
lions from Duckwater.
We do not believe that the capabilities
OF Nevada for agriculture are half appre-
ciated. Had what is now accomplished in
this State in farming been talked Of as pos
sible only a few years ago the proposition
would have been considered nearlyAbsurd.
Notwithstanding all the disadvantages
with which our farming people have to
contend, we are satisfied that in the lapse
Of time this sagebrush country will be
made to blossom as the rose. From sew
eral parts of the State, notably along the
Humboldt. Truckee and Carson Rivers,
where the soil is alluvial and the tempera-
ture less rigorous, the fruit products, to
say nothing Of the cereals, are remarkable
for their kind and variety. But the most
satisfactory evidence of what can be done
in Nevada in the cultivation of fruit is
some samples Of apples, grapes, plums and
peaches that We have before us on the ed
itorial table, brought to Eureka by Squire
Irwin from his ranch in Nye County. The
plums, yellow and purple, are large, firm,
o"Sost ~ yOiy JoiCys 1u6 kT6DoB arc VI
three sorts, the Muscat, Black Hamburg
and Mission. They grow in large punches,
close together. They are firm, juicy and
sweet. and we do not hesitate to say that
they are superior to similar grapes raised
in California. Mr.. Irwin raised three
tons OF grapes this season. He says they
can be raised anywhere else in Nevada o.
we'll as in Duckwster. The peaches are fine
and superior to those of California. As o
rulel larger and finer looking fruit is grown
in California than in Nevada, but it is the
rule, also, that fruit matured in Nevada is
more substantial and juicy, and of better
flavor than that produced in California.
Squire Irwin has been experimenting in
fruit raising on his ranch for the last seven
or eight years. At first he was not success
ful-he allowed his trees to attain their
normal growth. The wind. which is vio-
lent in bis vicinity, as generally, at times,
throughout Nevada, blew the blossoms of,
or II the blossoms escaped the ravages of
the wind. the young fruit would fall . vic
tim to it and be blown from the stems to
the ground. He looked about him and
took q lesson from nature. He saw the
runty cedsrs how they grew on the hills,
close to the ground, with low trunks and
the limbs spread out nearly on q line with
tue STOuDQ. he went 10 WOIk ana pre-
pared his fruit trees to make them grow
in the SAM way. He planted young trees
and cut them off just above the first limb,
and never allowed any tree to grow higher
than his head. He thus saved them from
the violence Of the wind. The branches
spread out, and as the fruit grew and
matured it rested on the ground. His best
fruit, he says, ia that which rests on the
ground, covered over with straw. He makes
q great abundance Of gooseberries, cur
rants and other berries every year. Nor
do the frosts ever kill the more tender
fruits on his place, except the grape vines.
OF which nearly one-half are Winter-killed
every year. Hereafter he will save all
these vines by bending them down and
covering them over with straw and earth,
after harvest. until Spring. This year Mr..
Irwin will sell to his %neighbors in Duck
Valley between four and five tons of fruit.
From his remarkable success, attained by
industry and thoughtful labor, it is plain
that Others may go and do likewise any
where else almost or the slope. He says
he feels as though he had just started in to
find out q few Of the many things about
fruit raising that be knows he will come
npon by experience. From year to year he
will improve his fruit by purchase and
selection Of the best stock, and we feel
sure that within the next five or six years
his 40-acre orchard will be one which not
only Nevada, but almost any State might
he uroud Of