The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1904-09-19
TILLING THE DESERTS.


The greatest single example Of the triumph
II irrigation in California Is seen in the big
region formerly known ii the Colorado Desert
This Is the delta Of he river OF that name, in
the extreme southeastern part of the State
extending over the border Of Mexico. Here
daring private enterprise has undertaken what
eculd lave been ideal task for the Govern
ment itself-the reclamation OF something like
a million acres Of the most fertile land in the
So recently as January. 1901, not a single
white man dwelt IN the reEiLsl ana even a
dams We're scarce. On January !. 1872, a party
q dozen surveyors had the place 20 them
selves On January /, 1903. 2CjO settlers had
arrived On Januar- !. 1904. there were, APP
nroxinately 10. Geo people there with several
owns a ralrl al. telegraph. telephone. many
stores q national bank, and with "a Coz acres
in actual cultivation. It sounds like a
tale from the Arabian Nights bus II is abso-
lutely true. And the truth of to-day is
pale compared with the promise Of tomorrow
a great river brought under human control
makes all the difference between hopeless des-
olation and the highest forms Of civilization.
Professor E. ]. Wickson of the Uni
versity of California has treated the
subject Of Horticulture in California "
He begins by calling attention to the
fact that fruit growing and the manu-
facture of fruit products constitute the
leading industry of California Dealing
with fruits in detail very valuable in
formation is afforded. About the ap-
pie Professor Wickson says in part:
California mas ABOUT o,DDD.btO Gpple trees.
OF which one-ifth are not yet in bearing The
success attained in growing a winter apple
very satisfactory to the trade and capable
OF distant shipment constitutes this fruit one
OF the most promising and popular at the pres
ent time. About one thousand carloads are
shipped beyond state lines. and a considerable
quantity reaches the London market, selling
AZ the highest prices. There two distinct
branches TO the apple industry Of California
One is the growing OF carry varieties like the
Astrachan and GraVcnstein for sale in the
northern parts CT the Pacific Coast and in
the interior mountain States before the earliest
apples be rfDened in those parts. The To-
calities where these early varieties are chiefly
grown for such shipment are in the Sacramento
Valley and the foothills surrounding IT, The.
forcing heat Of the spring and early summer
bring these varieties quickly TO notable size
crispness and flavor. This heat, however, con-
tfuued into the summer and autumn makes
the same districts quite ill-suited for the
eroWth OF winter apples, which prematurely
ripened and lack quality and keeping power.
The second branch of the California apple
industry then. the production OF winter an
pies Is undertaken in parts of the State quite
different in climate from that Of the early ap-
pie regions. The requirements OF winter ap-
Me are fully met by two main divisions OF
the state, viz: The smaller valleys close to
the coast-in fact, in some cases. the Goa st
fats where the exposure is directly toward
the cooling breezee OF the ocean, which pro-
duce a cool sumner long. slow growing
season which develops the greatest beauty
and highest quality in a winter apple SINH
lar results are also produced by the climate
found at an elevation OF from $500 to 5000 feet
on the interior plateaus and in the noun
tain valleys The coast district has developed
a greater commercial apple industry than the
shiDrnent are vastly better: but as the State
advances the mountain districts Will be en-
ployed In this production much more largely
than al present The greatest apple district
OF the State is the Pajaro Valley. including
parts OF Monterey and Santa Cruz counties,
centering at jacksonville. which shipped about