The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1902-09-06
-DAfE-RAIsING IN ARIZONA.
The Department Of AgricuIture Hat
Gone Into the Business on
. Large Scale.

The government is going into the
business OF date culture on large
scale. At the experimental station
near here has just been planted the
largest date orchard in America, and
perhaps in the world. Five acres have
been planted with various kinds of
date trees imported from Africa, be-
sides about 1000 seedlings. The de-
partment of agriculture seems to have
no doubt that the date palm will ul-
timately solve the problem of what to
do with the arid and alkali lands of
Arizona and other parts of the west.
Experiments have demonstrated the
great possibilities of the industry,
saws a Washington report.
The date-palm, although grown prof
ltably only in arid and semi-arid re-
gions, is not in the proper sense OF the
word desert plant. 1trequires sup
ply of water at the roots, and at the
same time it delights in perfectly dry
and very hot climate. 1t is able to
stand much more cold than the orange
tree, but not so much as the peach.
While the culture of the date is new
| in the United States, the date-palm has
long been grown in some localities. In
! Florida, California and Arizona, and
restricted areas in few other states,
1t has been grown in the open ground
for decorative purposes for century,
or possibly longer. In Florida 1t sell
dom fruits, and the fruit produced is
from an economic standpoint practi-
cally worthless.
At Tucson, Ariz., large date-paln
some IS feet in height, is growing on
ranch owned by Joaquin Carrillo. II
was planted prior to 1865. and is proba.
bly, the Oldest date tree growing in
Arizona. At Yuma there are records
of seeding dates that have been bear
ing from ten to Is years.
Date seeds were planted near the ter
ritorial prison at Yuma during thu
civil war. probably during the years
1929. The plants from these seed
are now large trees, and have fruitet
for Is years or more.
Between 10 and Is years ago mum
Der of seedlings were planted a
| Phoenix. A few of these seedlings ar
now producing fruit of good quail
ity.
The earliest dates produced in Cali
fornia were grown at the mission
along the coast Mt San Diego andnorth
ward. The date-palm grows tall in thi
region. and frequently blossoms, bu
the fruit does not develop perfectly
on account of the humidity of the al
mosphere and lack of intense summe
heat In few places in Californi
dates planted by the mission father
are still standing.
1t is now an established fact tina
dates of good quality and in CONNER
cial quantities can he produced in tn
warmer parts of Arizona, Mexico an
California. In the past year at tn
government experiment station nea
Phoenix three imported trees Dor
: more than 500 pounds, the fruit ripper
ing between August and january. Tn
fruit placed ON the market sold at
cents a pound, wholesale, at Phoeni'
Packed in boxes, it retailed at from
to 10 cents pound.
Seeding date trees in various part
: of the territory bore last year from
!: to 200 pounds to the tree. For SON
years yet most of the dates grown
this region will be on Seeding tree
Not less than 1900 trees have bee
r planted in the last two years /
: ranchers near Phoenix, and most {
1 them are -in fine condition.