Arizona weekly enterprise., 1890-07-05
Tucson Fruit Growers.

Considerable experimenting in vine and fruit tree culture is going on in the neigh borhood of Tucson, and the future out look of this highly commendable under taking is very bright.
 To the white population that first came as pioneers to the Santa Cruz valley, in the neighborhood of Tucson, the most noticeable feature of the cultivated bot tom lands was the great scarcity of peach, pear, apricot, and other trees of like na- ture, whose natural home the valley named, at first blush, seems to be, but these newcomers soon appreciated diff culties to be met in the shape of early warm weather and later fr0sts, and 1t became generally conceded fact that the low lands whereon water was so plentiful, were apt to give the tree pre- mature start, the resulting sequel being the loss of the fruit. The consequence of the difficulties to be contended with, was a general abandonment of fruit culture In the low and comparatively wet lands, with the exception of the few trees that would be the natural adjunct of dwell ings The cessations of efforts to grow sure crop of fruit in the rich lands of the Santa Cruz bottom, within mile of Tue son, was by no means an abandonment of the idea that Southern Arizona is naturally adapted to fruit culture; on the contrary 1t is simply an incentive to fur ther investigation as to the proper locus of land that could be counted on as re- sonably sure to produce fair orchard crop each succeeding year.
 It was soon determined that the lands lying fifteen to twenty-five feet higher than the old cultivated fields back of Tucson, were much better calculated for growing fruit, on account of the difference ln the temperature, which was very much in favor of the higher lands. This was especially noticeable in the night time when the suns rays were not available to blend difference of temperature of at least ten degrees. It was satisfactorily determined that early frosts often came in the low lands, when the dryer lands if teen to twenty-five feet higher were ab- solutely freefrom them, and to a person leaving the higher lands after sun down and entering in the old cultivated fields where the acequias are and plentiful ir- rlgatlon occurs, the difference of atlnos- phere was readily discernable, and the effect chilling, the air being of a damp, penetrating kind in the night time Though the higher lands have been lately resorted to for fruit growing in the nelghborhood of Tucson the progress is greatly retarded by the at present limited water facilities. Still the experiment is being energetically pushed, and the greatest confidence is expressed in the successful outcome. The best illustration of what thrift and inteligently directed attention will do is the beautiful place about two miles from Tucson, which has sprung up under the fostering hand of MT. A. V. Grossetta, the grocer. The water necessary to the irrigation of the thousands of fruit trees and vines on Mir Grossetta's place, is secured by two man. moth windmills and a steam pump, the latter being run semi-occasionally only. The prolific growth of everything on this 7er1table oasis bespeaks plentiful water supply, when once raised to the surface and a rich soil, and it is not to be doubted that the labor and money expended will be ample rewarded. Mir. Grossetta's place was simply the pioneer. Other prouis- ing orchards and vineyards are springing into existence under the skillful manipu- Iation of L, M. Prince, MT. Gillett, llr, Edmunds and others,
 The one of the great pest that these mesa fruit farms have to contend with is the rabbit. The new wire fencing mater IaI, however, successfully excludes the rabbits and renders cultivation of vines possible.
 A brief two years will demonstrate the feasibility of the undertaking to grow fruit and vines on the mesa lands, and once demonstrated the deserts around Tucson will be made to bloom, and the general aspect of the country changed Phenix Republican.