Rocky Ford enterprise., 1899-11-16
Hor,ieuItursi Observations

ACTED Tor itS prOuuctlpu' ot Hates. ihS
date palm In Africa Is 0 wonderful!
tree. II Is wonderful because l, seems
particularly adapted to grow in re-
zion where the conditions are such
that most other valuable trees refuse
TO live at all. II will stand torrid heat
and thrive in It. 1t will feed on alkali
water and bring forth rich harvests.
We have the torrid heat in some OF
our southern valleys. particularly IN
Arizona. There is also the condition
OF moisture supply. The Glkal! water
has been a thing that has prevented
us from availing ourselves OF the
farming regions In that part OF the
country. In Africa the Arabs frequent
ly dig a pit 20 or 80 feet deep and
plant their date palms In the bottom.
SO that their trees can dip their fee,
In the waters OF the earth and warm
their heads In the fires OF heaven" On
our western plains both OF these con-
ditions may be found. The date palm
will stand i5 degrees below freezing
withou, being Injured. and this degree
OF cold Is more than IL will be neces'
sary to provide for In the valleys o:
Arizona.
The British system OF growing
grapes In greenhouses Is obtaining
something OF hold in this country.
In England the grapes have been 10
grown for generations. or course 20
make Il profitable ,hs prices for the
fruit have to be far beyond what or
dlaary people can afford 10 pay. and
10 Il Is no unusual thing to hear abou,
such grapes selling nt 81 per pound.
and In rare Instances the prices have
gone up to - per pound. In this ccaa.
try the Industry Is confined TO the EaE;
and especially New York. We prcaIeI
that the Industry In the hands o.
Americans will assume greater pro-
portions than II has ever assumed In
England. with q corresponding fall In
prices. The Americans will SC; ,hsii
brains TO work and will and out ways
TO reduce the COS, OF building the
houses necessary and also the cost o:
heating them. Favorable locations
will also be found where the natural
conditions OF hea, and sunshluc arc
the best. and this Siil mean 8 reiar.
ton Of the fuel bill. Perhaps among
tho mountains In our coal regions sIli
be found locations especially adapted &c
this business. tn. la;7 inventions that
promise 10 make coal dust and screen.
inks available a, a Ion price will
doubtless be factor in tho case.
Tho question Of tree pFp;setios 10
ihs uin'of 10 one that IL lafEsly as'
solved. A, every horticultural coz
fcation that tho writer attends Il i
a live subject. and srsa, variety o:
opinioas are brought TO the surface
Tie discussion runs along the iHs o!
experience. tha, IL. each man argues
By reporting his ura experience ir
Protesting trees. This shozs Iha; ihf
subject Is not fully understood. that
ihs Laws tha, eoa,fol the effectiveness
Of uinier protection arc no; yet un.
tsrs,eoi. RecsH,iy II has acsa Tc.
ported ,hs; during the las; zln,c;
fasny sfses suffered that had bsra pro
;seied by sood rensefinE. The baFt
died under the covering. Soz sASarii
are asking shy. Some suggest that II
may have been due TO the space fi!iins
up with water that .roEe and remained
so till spring. Others thIak ;ha, II
might have been due 10 the sen.Fipsa.
Ing Of the wood under the ysaecf.az
Es'isntiy II will take long course Q.
experimentation scientifically Goa
Quoted TO arrive a; the cause Of sue,
cess and fliluFe in protecting trees.