The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1900-12-30

acre each year. and selling the same at
80 cents per bushel he would have $3.50
per acre from his crop, which would
leave handsome profit after paying
all expenses.
In the berry fruits there are always
satisfactory returns, and while il is diff
ficult to say what the average income
is, Sttll there are many fruit gardeners
in Utah who get from $500 10 $500 per
acre each year from straw berries. la
all the estimates Of returns from orch
ardiug, it is presumed that intelligent
thought and the best OF care be given
to it. Without these factors entering
into the problem the result is more apt
10 be decided loss than any profit
There is no reliable data as to the
acreage in orchards in Utah, but very
safe estimate would be to say chat
there are at present 600. 600 fruit trees
of bearing age and approximately an
equal number OF trees that have not
yet come into bearing.
Realizing that insect foes innumer-
able threaten the total destruction OF
this vast number Of revenue bearing
trees, the legislature in 1894 enacted
a law providing for compulsory orchard
diSinfecuOn. The enforcement of that
law and the notifications and amend
ments thereto is delegated to a state
board of horticulture, consisting of
three members, who are appointed by
the governor. In addition 20 the work
of orchard diSinfeCtiOn, the state board
is charged with the duty Of fostering
the fruit interests in every manner
possible. To that end the Utah board
of horticulture has issued numerous
bulletins containing much valuable in
formation in addition TO the mandatory
rules and regulations regarding orch
ard disinfectiOn.
As further evidence that horticulture
is regarded as one Of the foremost in
Ia -fvfes= in Fnh is hn lra
last legislature made provision for con-
Quoting a horticultural experiment
farm. The object of this Is to actually
test all theories and to give to the peO-
pie free information, thus saving thou
sands of dollars and ObVlaUln6 much
disappointment to the beginners in hOr-
ticulturai pursuits. The experiment
farm is conducted under the direct SUI
pervision of the state board of hOrti-
culture. The site selected for the farm
is near st. George, in Washington ceun-
/ W. The first appropriation of $4,000 has
been expended during the past year in
| the work of Ieveling, dttChing and
fencing the forty acres Of land and in
| the erection of a substantial flve-rOom
dwelling. Also a start was made IN
planting trees and vines. The future
! work of the farm will be TO demon
/ strate the superiority Of progressive
methods of orchard culture, including
pruning, spraying, Cultivating, thin
! ming, etc, as well as to test the differ
/ ent varieties Of fruits, with a view 10
/ determining which IS most reliable and
most profitable.
| In conclusion, it seems only just and
/ fair to say that Utah is rapidly ap-
| preaching her rightful place in the very
| front rank Of fruit growing states. The
soil and climate are all that could be
desired; means Of transportation are
! at every door, the reputation of Utah
1 fruit is annually becoming better, the
! state recognizes and fosters the indus
I try as one of its chief resources of
l wealth. The world will never have a
! surplus of superior fruits, and the Utah
/ horticulturist who practices up-tO-date
/ methods ana keeps in touch with the
/ markets of the world viii always be
/ in a position to dispose Of his product
to advantage.