The Florence tribune., 1901-02-23
AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. An Interesting Rsport of Some Trees and
 Plants for Barren Places.

It is often a perplexing matter to beautify southern Arizona home with its appropriate setting of green. The i wide daily and yearly range of temper ature makes the number of available | trees and plants much less than in the more even climate of Southern califor- mia; while the aridity of the air and the scarcity of water makes drougt- resisting forms to he preferred. The experience of several years past on the University grounds has shown | some especially suitable things for an arid mesa uuderlaid with the limy | hardpan commonly known as caliche. 1
 TREES.
 Among trees, the pepper stands not far from first for such a situation; be- ing graceful evergreen, rapid grow CT, and thriving on relatively little water. This tree, sweeping the ground with it's lower branches, may serve admirably as screen, but may also be trimmed up into taller and more shapely form. The Arizona ash is slow grower, but never sulks; prosper ing when water is abundant, maintain ing fife and waiting for it's opportunity when water is scarce. The Bagote, species of Palo Verde, is an attractive oddity, evergreen, graceful, and GOV cred with wealth of yellow blossoms for three weeks in the spring. One tree on the University grounds has thriven for three years past without irrigation, but is slightly damaged by our coldest winter weather, say 20 degrees r. The date palm is highly or namental and when we'll watered. takes strong hold on sticky soils. When ornament alone is considered, however, Phoenix canarienses, closely resemb- ling the date palm, is perhaps prefer able. It is more vigorous grower and does not put forth the troublesome growth of suckers which must be re- moved from the date. The native cottonwood, too, though it has it's enemies, is an excellent thing to plant next year. This year you should watch the trees in your neighborhood and mark the males-those which pro- duce no cotton. Switches from this source will produce clean trees free from the annoying nuisance of cotton. Perhaps the handsomest trees on the University grounds are three cotton- woods, about niue years old, but 50 feet high and with trInks l6 to 20 inches in diameter. All of these trees will force sufici root room for themselves in caliehe, if properly irri- gated.
 The olive, the umbrella tree, and the Washingtonia palm are less hardy in the hardpan soil of our location, being occasionally subject to destructive root rot where, apparently, the health of the tree is impaired by adverse con ditions. In most cases, it is desirable to prepare root room in a hardpan soil by blasting, as a growing tree will otherwise soon become cramped for room. When caliche is found within two or three feet, it is well to drill three or four feet further and shake things up with stick of No. 2 Giant on top of large handful of black powder.
 HEDGES.
 The pomegranate takes vigorous hold of rocky ground, as does also the California privet but both require at tention with regard to water in the hot season. The privet is especially beautiful for this purpose, evergreen vigorous and easily and cheaply prop agated by cuttings from the estab lshed plants.
 VINES.
 On Q south exposure the trumpe creeper thrives, yielding mass o green foliage and orange red blossom in summer, but rather bare and un slightly in winter. The Virginia creer CT will also endure our summers, bu its near relative, Ampelopsis Veitchi is handsomer and cleaner vine wit an ivylike leaf. Ampelopsis Veitch does best in shady places. The honey suckle also thrives on south exposures as does the English CD ivy in sheltere places, but the latter is perhaps les adapted to this climate even when pr' tected from the heat.
 LAWN PLANTS.
 Bermuda grass, perhaps, heads Il list as a summer-grower and drout resister. Its harsh texture, and Il difficulty of killing it, however, do n make it many friends. Alfalfa mak beautiful summer-green, stands pr longed drouth when once establish' and will force it's roots deeply in hardpan soil, thus preparing them subsequent planting, Sour" clov, (yellow sweet-clover, bitter melilot fulflls the same purpose, but grows
 winter. A very promising plant f lawns in this section in Lippia reper