The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-12-31

standard IS evident to one who knows
the naturally favorable conditions.
Profits In Horticulture.

ally set at distance of twenty-four 10
thirty feet each way, while peach, pear
and prune trees are set closer. so that
! orchards average about 100 trees to the
acre. In most localities in Utah. choice
land with water right may be obtained
at from $50 to 500 per acre. The or
chard in good condition would increase
| these figures about $50 per acre. that
lis. the trees would cost about $50 per
100 set out and ready to grow. During
| the first three years the ground be-
| tween the trees may be utilized to
grow any of the vegetable crops with
out injury to the trees, thus yielding
interest on the investment and pay for
cultivation. After the third year in
| peaches and pruneS, or the fifth year
| in pears and apples, the fruit yield
will return fair interest on the invest
| ment. From and after the sixth year
| the returns are large, beyond all pro-
portion. when the original cost of the
| orchard is considered. Figuring only
| 90 cents per tree Ia ridiculousiy low
| figure) the revenue would be $50 per
acre. Allowing $50 per acre for culti-
walton, picking and marketing the fruit
and there is q net revenue of $50 per
| acre, or 10 per cent on valuation of
$500 per acre. With a yield of S150 per
tree, which is more nearly the possible
| returns in Utah. there is left good in
terest in valuation of $1,000 per acre.
which is about what first class Utah
orchard is worth.
These are not average figures. Moth
ing could be more unjust than to judge
of Utah horticulture by an average
of all the so-called orchards. Hundreds
OF dilapidated and neglected orchards
in the state are even worse than in
cumbrances to the land they occupy,
yet strictly speaking all these worth
less orchards must be taken into ac-
count when seeking an average of the
fruit production. But if only these
tracts of land are considered where
owners make a speciality of fruit grow
ing and where progressive, up-to-date
methods are employed. the highest fig
ures given herein are just average of
the valuation and profits of a Utah
orchard. In substantiation of this
names, locations and records of sales
can be given if necessary. Nor need
there be any considerable allowance
for depreciation or wearing out of the
orchard: With proper selection of soil
as 10 adaptation to the particular fruit
to be planted. careful attention to
drainage. frequent fertilization, thor
ough diSinfection and rational pruning
or trees, the life of an apple orchard
in Utah should be fifty years or more.
while peach trees should be profitable
Tor at least twenty-five years after
planting.
This is demonstrated in nearly all the
older settlements of Utah, where there
are instances of great fruitfulness by
very old trees, even where neglect
rather than care has been their por-
ton. One case in point is the Pear
main apple tree at North Ogden, which
in 1895 bore fifty bushels of choice ap-
pies when it had been planted thirty
five years. The tree IS still in prime
mr. fasx
the crop of five years ago.
Orchard Pests.
Candor compels the statement that
the Utah horticulturalist must combat
numerous injurious insects and dis
eases. In this respect, however. Utah
suffers no more than other states and
even less than many of them The alb
sence of excessive moisture from dew
and rainfall reduces the chances for
fungus growth so troublesome in moist,
warm countries, the insects, while nu-
merouS and active, are not invincible,
and yield to vigorous treatment with
we'll known insecticides.
Board of Horticulture.
For the purpose of fostering the great
fruit interests of Utah, there is a state
board of horticulture established by
law, and consisting of three members
appointed by the governor, and repre-
senting different sections of the state.
The same law provides for county fruit
tree inspectors, who carry out
the regulations of the state
board in the matter of or
chard disinfection for the suppress
sion of diseases and injurious insects.
The efforts of the board of horticulture
are directed toward improving the gen.
eral conditions of orchards especially
as to cultivation, fertilization and prun-
ing; also in securing the adoption of
approved methods of picking, packing
and marketing fruits. While there is
much lethargy shown by the majority
of farmers, with whom fruit growing is
only incidental, the orchardists who
make the business a study respond
most cordially TO the suggestions made
by the board. The several members
of the board of horticulture will give
special attention to all requests for in
formation pertaining to fruit growing,
whether from residents of Utah or from
those living elsewhere.
AS at present constituted, the board
consists ST Thomas Judd, st. George;
H. E. Cary, Provo; and ]. A. Wright, |
Ogden.
Experiment Farms.
The last legislature enlarged the
scope of the work for the board by an
act providing for an experiment farm
in southern Utah. 1t is intended that
and carefully conducted ex-
periments shall be made to determine |
the most suitable methods in all lines
of horticultural work. There the var |
ing. cultivating and spraying of trees:
also modes of thinning, picking. pack
ing, evaporating and marketing of fruit ,
will be tested. and full reports pub !
liShed. A site for TIE farm has been |
selected near st. George, in Washing |
ton county. and active operations will |
begin ea-ly in 1900. The provisions of !
this law will render the work of the |
board of horticulture doubly effective |
and of increased good to fruit growers |
the state.
Future Possibilities.
To state in figures or to estimate in |
dollars and cents the future possibilities !
of horticulture in Utah is beyond the |
ability of any living person That i'm
mense revenues must come in is as
sured. In the counties of Cache, Box |
Elder, Weber, Davis, Salt Lake. Utah. |
Sanpete, Sewer, Willard and Emery are |
thousands of acres that may be made |
to yield four fold more in fruit than in |
any other product. In each of those |
counties today are numerous orchards /
that are object lessons. Traversed as
they are by railways that are feeders
to the transcontinental lines. the trans
portation problem is easily solved.
With 10000 acres or more of standard
fruits of Utah's best quality growing
n each county. buyers from all over the
world will flock to Utah to bid on the
orchard crops each year. Thus prices
will be kept at the top notch and each
grower will receive the utmost his quail
ty of fruit will justify. Competition