Arizona weekly enterprise., 1890-10-25
ORANGES IN ARIZONA. THE SALT RIVER VALLEY CITRUS
 BELT. 4 Promising Industry of Southern hri- zona---Thriving Groves of Oranges and Lemons Seen on Trip to
 the Arizona Canal.
Phenix Republican.

Phenix Republican.
 A ride behind Major Evans find team Is not to be despised, and it was with pleasure that Republican reporter &C., cepted the Majors invitation to join a party of representatives of the local press on visit to several orange orchards yes terday afternoon.
 The day was well advanced when the start was made, so the trip was neces- sarlly hurried. The route led through the beautiful farming country northeast of Phenix, the alfalfa fields in their rch luxuriance, the sleek cattle grazing upon them, the orchards, in which the leaves were just tinging with the hGes of au- tumn, all contributing to fl ] out picture of rural beauty that could be but pleas ing to the eye.
 The first orange grove passed was that of w. J. Murphy, President of the Ari- zona canal, located about seven miles from Phenix. The trees in the orchard were planted but about year ago, but, as far as the eye could discern, down the accurately aligned rows, that were as straight as rule from every direction, not deador even a sickly tree was notice able. There are ten acres of orchard in this piece, divided between trees imported both from California and Florida.
 Reaching the great Arizona canal, at the head of the Cross-Cut ditch. and driv- Ing along 1t for several miles, the orange grove of the Arizona Improvement Com pany was reached, but short distance east Of the Arizona falls.
 This orchard, of fifteen acres, was started by the Improvement company for the purpose of primarily demonstrating that the soil and climate of this valley are alike peculiarly adapted by nature to the growing of citrus fruits. There has been added to the young trees set out only two years growth but the fact is plainly ap- parent to the visitor that the orchard will within few years more be a source of much revenue to its owners
 The trees have not been allowed to bear to any extent this year. such a course being deemed beneficial to the growth of the wood Yet on nearly every tree in the grove are several green globes, many of them faintly touched with yellow. The oranges are fast ripening and it Is the expectation of those in charge to have the first picking of ripe fruit at least two weeks before the California crop natures.
 Most of the oranges are from Califor- mia nurseries, and are of the Washington Navel and Malta Blood varieties. The fruit Is uniformly of large size and in
  general characteristics of health, 1t would seem as though the tree could not be ex- celled.
 Several rows are of the Tangerine, or Kid glove" variety, Florida orange highly esteemed in the East The trees, though of the same age are smaller than their neighbors from California, and have slender, pointed leaf. The oranges are also quite small, and are much the shape of pear They are said to be very deli cate in flavor and possess the advantage l that the skin peels very readily, insuring cleanliness to the hands of the person eat ing them.
 1 Water is applied about once month | during the summer season. but the final ! irrigation has now been given until the winter is past. After flooding, as soon as a crust appears upon the ground, a culti- vator is used to mellow up the soil.
 The east of the oranges IS a grove of White Adriatic fig trees. They are only two years old, but show thrifty growth.
 Tn the western part of the enclosure there is happy conceit, in the shape of garden of perhaps two-thirds OF an acre. Within the enclosure made by hedge of Monterey cypress are lemons, bananas, guavas, loquots, palms, grivillias and many other fruit producing and or namental plants A very pretty effect. Is obtained by surrounding the palm that marks the center of the plot with a cir cular hedge of roses, alternately whlte and red. The plants and trees within the garden are set out mainly for experiment, but all appear to thrive upon Arizona ozone and to flourish as if on their native heaths
 The success of the improvement Com pany's orchards has emboldened many other settlers under the Arizona Canal to plant citrus fruits, and there are now per haps twenty small orchards of oranges under cultivation in the northern valley. The officers of the company seem to be fully aware that to succeed in develop ing this valley they must show enter prise and spend money in order to reap a like harvest. Among other improvements made by them there might be noted a system of avenues which, though now ''out on the desert,' are likely to be grand highways for the citrus belt of the future. : Each of the avenues has been bordered on each side with row of mountain ash trees and one, which is evidently intended to be the main artery. has. for four and , one-half miles of it's length, row of olive trees paralleling on the inside each of the l lines of ash trees.
 } The trip would have been prolonged, 7 but the coming of the twilight hid the 2 landscape from view and the homeward l journey was perforce taken up.