Arizona republican., 1898-02-02
ORANGE CULTURE IN VALLEY

ORANGE CULTURE IN VALLEY. Something About the Production of
 Citrus Fruits Here Last Season.
 The Salt River valley has not long been known as an orange producing region. A great many winter visitors are surprised to find oranges growing here. Some of them are here for m3ny weeks before they are awai e that they are living in city bordered on the north by a great hedge Of or ange trees But it will not be long before the whole world will konw the truth. Eevery year the product in creases, and every year some new lo- cality in the United States is visited by the Salt River valley orange. It Is young industry that is advertising itself with each years harves; by the sweet juices of it's fruit.
 The oranges, lemons, grape fruit and tangerines raised in the valley last year, filled over $500 boXes. This is an increase over the production of 1896 of somewhere in. the neighbor- hood of 50 per cent. It YVES not as favorable q year as migh, have been
 
 of previous years, but it was a good harvest and an increase that ought to aatisfy the orchardist. The increase in the product of some groves was even greater than that.
 The orange harvest Of the season began somewhat later this year than usual, but the fruit brought a good price. It was shipped to Boston, New Norl- md ruth hnr points throughout Arizona. IA large number of boxes were retained in this city for local trade during the win ter and spring. The prices of oranges in this city today are $25O and s. 50 a box. Lemons are selling for s25 and $3.00 box.
 There are 800 acres planted in or anges in the valley up to the present time, and new groves will be set out this spring. Dr. Hardy of this city h-s purchased ten acres adjoining his orchard near the Camel Back noun tain which he will set out in orange trees. Another patch of ten acres two miles waSo of this MT. Spauld- ing is putting iLfo grape fruit. Over in Glendale a number of new orange orchards will be started this spring. And when the new season for harvesting comes around a number of new producing orchards will add their oranges to swell the orange product Of the valley. Of the 800 acres plant ed about 800 acreS contain bearing groves.
 The varieties of oranges in the val ley are about equally divided between the Washington navel and seedlings. Among the latter Hhere is the jaffa, -arci1ff, Mediterranean sweet, ParsOn Brown and blood, all commanding a good price and giving yield which f the navel does noJ. Public opinion is [ divided ln regard to oranges like any thing else that engages the attention and discussion of men, One thing is certain and that is that there is a market for all Of them, no matter what name they bear. The market is ready as soon as the oranges are ripe II the oranges ripen a little before the usual time they command a fancy price in eastern markets, and thig fact gives the Salt River valley orange grower prestige over his California nelghbor. Here the, fruit ripens ear Her as rule than it does in Califor- ma. and Arizona oranges have Cften been the first to reach the eastern markets. It is not infrequent thai they are placed on the Thanks sgfvine table in the remOteSt eastern city by the Arizona shipper.
 The long wait before there is any income from the trees makes the cul- ture Of oranges an undertaking which 1sW can afford, and this perhaps ac- counts for the large tracts of excellent orange land in the valley lying idle It IS no, poor m1n's proposition un. less he retains some of h:s land fo, purposes which he can turn to crop: giving immediate returns But 1ht young orange groves thus far pIa ntef Ill the valley were put in by men wht can afford to wait four or five year: for crop and stand the expense O. cutiva;ing the trees all this tune an( othsr incidental expenses attachsd tr the industry.
 An experienced orange man ii speaking of the cost of putting in , grove and taking care of it urtil tn, trees begin 70 bear said that th, desert land can be put in shape t plant trees for about S15 an acre. Thi
 includes gruhblng out the mesauit
 trees and desert brush, ploughins leveling, running the lands and ditch ing. Of course ithe condition of th
 land decides the cost. The Improve ment company has paid out as hig,
 as $50 an acre for leveling, and som
 of it's land cost but $10 an acre. Il
 regard to caring for the trees he sail the first two years one man with good team can take care of a grove o
 forty acres, but after that time h
 could take care of but thirty For tn first two years after the desert groun has been broken the weeds do not ge much of start. It takes them tha
 time to recover from the shock of be ing so ruthlessly turned do,wn." Blu , when they get starred again the make kfe' full of trouble for the ranch
 CT. During the first year he can cul
 tivate with one horse, and handle for
 ty acres, with ease. but he finds hi
 work increasing as the Pars ooms But as his work increases his tree