Arizona republican., 1890-12-07
FRUITS IN ARIZONA. An Interesting Meeting of
 Fruit Growers. Secretary Patrick Discusses
 Pruning. Professor Brandt, of the University, Treats of Cultivation and
 Available Varieties.

the Clam per or commerce rOolls' ITeS' ident Chandler called the meeting to order.
 The regular order of business was dis pensed with, the program of the meet ing being an essay by II. R. Patrick and remarks on fruit culture, etc., by Prof, Brandt, of the Experimental Agency of the Department of Agriculture.
 F. A. Gulley, of the University of Ari' zona, and Director of the Experimental Station, was to have been present, but was called to Tucson on business con nected with the Department.
 Mir. Patrick said: ''In this essay l shall only attempt to give an outline Of the methods of pruning, and therefore give only general principles. consider the department of pruning to be the most essential, if not the most impor- tant, work and study of the fruit grower. Pruaing may be otherwise designated as, and practiced as, shaping process, yet it also has for its objective purpose that of increasing the strength of the trunks and main branches in the early years of their growth. The system of pruning and propagating that forms low headed standard tree, is the rule for these southern attitudes"
 The speaker went on to explain the virtue of shaping the trunks and the system of pruning by which healthy bearing is accomplished. "The shading of ground is of great importance, in SO much as it is economy of water and labor in irrigating, and also prevents the ground around the tree from baking, and reduces evaporation under the tree thereby maintaining a temperature of soil that is much more favorable to vigorous root growth"
 The speaker referred to the very dis astrOus experience had in Southern California by the practice of leaving long bare trunks to be scorched by the hot rays of the sun, and explained the process of pruning and shaping at the different periods of the trees growth to gain the best results.
 "The nature of each particular kind of tree must be studied. In California this is carried so far that the growers agree that they know better what is for the good of the tree than does
 
 subjected natures laws to their will and method. So for trees that naturally grow straight up, we must head out this is done by inside pruning or cutting above a butt that is on the outside of the branch on the other hand, trees that spread out too much naturally, we must head in by outside pruning"
 Summer pruning, renewing old trees and r,roftipoy yyara olI rnottaro in tba line of the industry noticed by MT. Patrick.
 Professor Brandt, being introduced, said:
 As am a stranger among you will say that my past experience in fruit growing has been in Australia, in Mexico the Eastern States and many places around the Mediterranean Sea and California, and in every place have made a thor ough study of every variety of fruit northern, southern, semi tropical and tropical, always attending meetings of all horticultural societies and securing all the horticultural literature possible from every source. l have made ob- seryation and study of the irrigation systems m Australia, New South Wales and Victoria, in Kansas and Nebraska, as also in California, and in all these sections have seen no place that has such natural facilities for artificial irrga- tiOn as are here found in Southern Arizona. I have already trayersed the Gila and Salt River Valleys from Yuma to Phoenix and it unques- tionably has many advantages over other sec tions and with proper study, experiment and capital for development will develop into vast empire of orchards.
 In regard to fruit planting here, would say, briefly, that great pains should be taken in pre- pairing the soil, blowing deep with turning blow, then using the subsOiler to a depth of two feet, If possible: This will loosen up the sOi so that the irrigation will be more effective The irrigation should take place fully during the winter, when there is not much evaporation, so that the subsOil becomes saturated, and when the trees are planted in the spring, the roots will go down. If the irrigation is not done till summer, then the roots will come nearer the surface and many of the roots will be dried and check the vigOr of the tree.
 An important matter pertaining to irrigation | is not to irrigate too close to your tree. The | first year it may be nearer than afterwards, but | water never should be run so close to the tree AS to make the soil soft and muddy around the | trees as this causes the soil to bake. After sev- eral years of growth, the irrigation should be | midway between the rows in one furrow If the | soil is sandy, and in two fuTrows if the soil is | heavy, and the cultivation should be with cul- | tivatOT and harrow instead of a blow. There | should be no deep blowing after the third year |
 After thorough blowing, pulverizing and ir- I rigation of the soil, all of which should be done early in the season, not later than January l, l then the holes for the trees should Le dug and | carefully prepared so that they may be left | open for several weeks Plant the tree finally | in moist soil (nOt vet and when TOW is all | planted turn in water to irrigate and settle the | soil more perfectly about the roots of the tree.
 It Is necessary to properly prepare every tree | by clipping all bruised roots and turning in | all long roots, all to be done with sharp knife | to make a clean, smooth cut.
 From my experience in southern California | and other hot countries, would recommend | the fruit growers to plant the following varie- ties of fruits:
 For apples, l would only urge the planting of l early varieties. The Red June which is very | early is nicely colOred and good shipper The | Early Harvest in southern California oOes ex- ceedingly well, in high elevations as well as low, and is very hearty tree and very early. | The Early Strawberry is also q very early vari. ety of apple and very good one Co plant here, and good for shipping. Williams FayOrite is | countries. We do not want any late apples, ex- eept for home consumption. The White Winter Pearmain Is very good for a late summer apple; also the BelltOwer and Ben Davis.
 or the varieties of pears the Andre Desportes | and the Buerre Clifford are very early are of fine flavor and good shippers. Of the later varieties come the Bartlett and Flemish Beauty They produce excellently and are most excellent fruit The Buerre Clairgean is very large, has delicate meat finely colored and Is one of the best shippers to Eastern markets The Sickles and Winter Nellis are both small or medium size, russet color but fine flavor.
 The Mariana is the best plum l can recom- mend. It does well in Southern California and found it at Yuma. It is rapid grower, fruit large and of fine red color, small stone and a good shipper The Kelsey also does well.
 Of peaches there is e long list The earliest are Briggs Red May, the Strawberr peach and the Alexander. They are all very early and good Tor shipment For the summer market the Foster, Early Crawford and WheaUand an for late varieties the Susquehanna Newhall, Bonanza, Salway, Muir, Bilyou's Late and the Wager. All of these later varieties good for all purpose fruits, for shipping, canning and drying.
 The Royal apricot here stands at the head Then follow the Peach apricot, the Large Early, Montgamet, the Pringle and St. Ambroise.
 The fig l can recommend very strongly for this country, but proper varieties must be secured. think the White Smyrna, ii the true variety can be secured, excels the White Adriatic, but would recommend most strongly the White Genoa, and l shall propagate them at the station here, This is for drying and crys- talizing. For home market and shipping there