Arizona daily citizen., 1901-02-19

says:
1t is often a perplexing matter to
a southern Arizona home with /
is appropriate setting of green. The
vide daily and yearly range OF tenn
makes the number oil available /
,rees and plants less than in the more
even climate of southern California
while the aridity of the air and the
scarcity OF water makes drouth-resist-
ing forms to be preferred.
The experience OF several years past
on the university grounds has shown
some especially suitable things for an
arid mesa underlaid with the limy hard
pan commonly known as caliche.
Trees. Among trees, the pepper
stands not far from first for such a situ-
alton; being graceful evergreen,
rapid grower, 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 a taller and
more shapely form. The Arizona ash is
a slow grower, but never sulks; pros
pering when water is abundant, main
taihing life and waiting for its opportu-
nifty when water is scarce. The
Bagote, species of Palo Verde, is an
attractive oddity, evergreen. graceful,
and covered with a wealth of yellow
blossoms for three weeks in the spring.
One tree on the university grounds has
thriven for three years past without lrri-
CATION, but is slightly damaged by our
coldest winter weather, say 20 degrees F
The date palm is highly ornamental and
when well watered, takes strong hold on
rocky soils. When ornament alone is
considered, however, Phoenix canarien-
ses, closely resembling the date palm, is
perhaps preferable. 1t is more vigorous
grower and does not put forth the
troublesome growth of suckers which
must be removed from the date. The
native cottonwood, too, though it has
its 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 nine years old, but SO feet
high and trunks Is to 20 inches in dia-
meter. All OF these trees will force su-
fficient root room for themselves in
caliche, if properly irrigated.
The olive, the umbrella tree and the
Washingtonia palm are less hardy in
the hardpan soil of our location, being
subject to destructive root
rot, where, apparently, the health of the
tree isimpaired by adverse conditions. |
In most cases, it is desirable to prepare
root room in hardpan soil by blasting
.s growing tres will otherwise soon be-
come cramped for room. When caliche
10 found within two or three feet, it is
well to drill three or four feet further
and shake things up with a stick of No.
, Giant on top of a large handful of black
powder. ,.
Hedges. The pomegranate takes Wig
orous hold OF rocky ground, as does also
the California privet (Liqustrum Japon-
icum.) but both require attention with
regard to water in the hot season. The
privet 10 especially beautiful for this
purpose. evergreen. vigorous and easily
and cheaply propagated by cuttings from
The established plants.
Vines. On south exposure the trum-
pet creeper thrives, yielding mass of
green foliage and orange-red blossoms in
summer, but rather bare and unsightly
IN winter. The Virginia creeper will
also endure our summers, but its near
relative, Ampelopsis yeitchii, is hand.
solmer and cleaner vine with an iyy-like
leaf. AmpeIopsis yeitchii does best in
BhAdy places. The honeysnckle (Loni-
cera Japonica, also thrives on south ex.
poenres, aa does the English (?) ivy in
1heitered places, but the latter is per-
haps les adapted to this climate even
when protected from the heat.
Lawn Plants. Bermuda grass, per-
hapa, heads the list a. . summer-grower
md dFouth-sesister. Its harsh texture.
and the difficulty Of killing it, however,
40 not make Il many friends. Alfalfa
Inakaa 3 beautifui summer-green, stands
pedlonesd drought when once establish
n md VIM forcs IT. roots deeply into
hsss pau soii, thus preparing them for
luhsequsnt plantin9. ssSour'' clover
syellow swset.cIover. bitter melilot).
fslalls ~ sanas purpose, but grows in
.sliakss A rory pfomising plant for
n a this section Il Lippia repens, a
IN u heliotrope and yerbena.
t n : rapid grower, mating
a.. M ~ u ~ sropnd, and spreading
stfaM aMhKTy plant, striking
tgsnts - 1t runs. 1t 10
nm n blosn Ii summer, is
prospsrs best In the
~ " X M M stands the frosts Of
siFly well. The lawn Of
evsx. II doubtless to be
nMslae grasses. In the
slssssIe ior existence
as6s Score grasses and