Arizona republican., 1899-03-31

years old. The oldest olive trees in the Salt River valley are only six years old, and last year bore abundantly, which was all the more notable, as the California crop in that year was a complete failure The olive is a com paratively hardy tree and seems to thrive well on sandy, rocky soil, but responds in yield to richer soil. The principal varieties so far planted here are the Manzanillo Navadilio Mission and Columeila. The Manzanillo and Navadillo are the heaviest bearers, the Manzanilla being the best picking olive, and the Navadillo is best adapted to oil These two varieties begin to ripen the latter part of August, which is about two months earlier than the same varieties mature in California. Both pickling and crushing for oil are comparatively simple processes, and there is no reason why Arizona should not produce as fine olive oil and pickles as are made in the world. Three car loads of olives were pickled in Phoe- nix last fall and shipped to eastern markets.
 While during the past three years Arizona has become we'll known in many sections of the country as pro- ducing very fine deciduous fruits, yet it is through her citrus fruits, and es- pecially her oranges, that Arizona has gained special distinction outside of her own borders. Salt River valley or anges are well known in the markets of New York, Boston, Chicago, Phila- delphia and other eastern cities. A large commission house wrcte to dealer here last fall that the finest oranges received in that market during the season were from the Salt River valley. At the California midwinter fair Salt River valley Washington navel oranges received a first premium gold medal for excellence, and this af- ter. being picked for two months, and shipped thousand miles. Not alone are the Washington navel oranges of the Salt River valley as fine in quality as any grown, thin skinned, sweeter than those from California, as juicy as a Jamaica orange and more highly colored than those from the Indian river country of Florida, but what is more important than all to the grower. they are the earliest navel oranges to ripen in the United States. Orange picking commences in the valley early in November and lasts until after the holidays, the latest varieties ripening in January. California navel oranges ripen the latter part of December, Jan uary and February. Last year the
 
 navel oranges in the Chicago market nearly a week before Thanksgiving.
 Many varieties are raised here, in cluding the Washington navel, St. Michaels, Jaffa, Hearts Tardiff, Med iterranean Sweet and Parson Brown. The navel is, of course, the popular variety in the markets of the east, and are our largest and finest fruit. They do not, however, bear quite so heavily as some other varieties. Blood or anges, while much smaller than the navel, have a distinct and excellent quality and have many friends. The little Japanese Kid Glove" oranges. the Mandarin and TaEgerine, bear reg ularly and well here, and are quite profitable.
 The orange is q very long lived tree. In California and the countries sur rounding the Mediterranean, orange tres bear regularly up to 100 years, and there seems to be no reason why they should be shorter lived here. Trees come into bearing here at three years. after which time the yield will prob ably increase steadily up to twenty five years.
 The great freezes which for two sue cessive seasons have devastated the entire state of Florida seem to demon
 
 rus belt in this country, outside of and California. During this winter, which has been an unusually cold one, not a tree has been damaged in the citrus belt of this valley.
 There are 1000 acres now planted to oranges. About fifty acres on the south side of Salt river and the balance along the foothills, commencing at a point about six miles due north of Phoenix and running east to the east end of Camel Back. The largest grove in the valley is owned by the Ingle- side company l. lies directly south the Arizona canal This grove is the oldest in the valley, contains about 100 acres and is planted almost entirely to navel oranges.
 The foreman of the IngieSide grove estimates that the yield on the oldest trees will average about 250 boxes per acre.
 There is a very fine group of citrus groves about a mile and half west of he Ingleside grove This includes MT. w. J. Murphy's grove of Washington navel oranges and grape fruit. pr. Eardy's grove of Jaffas and Mediter- ranean Sweets and MT. Wards grove. Mr Ward perhaps cultivates more diff ,erent varieties of citrus fruit than any other grower in the valley. His or ;hard includes grape fruit, tangerines, Jaffas, Mediterranean Sweets and lem 1ns.
 The nearest groves to Phoenix are in he suburb of Orangewood on Central avenue, about six miles north of Phoe- 1ix. There are at present ten or chards in this attractive suburb, and Ire planted almost exclusively to navel oranges. Many of .hese groves are owned by retired busi- ness men who expect to make their orange groves the site of ideal homes. The oldest of these groves belongs to 0r. Mulvane, prominent physician of Chicago, who plans to make his future lome in the valley. All of these