Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1905-01-14
FRUIT GROWING
IN UTAH'S DIXIE.
Work Being Done at the State S
Southern Experiment Farm
Al St. George.
IMPETUS GIVEN GRAPE INDUSTRY
Irrigation and Culture Work Frost
Disaster aud It's Lesson-Nccd Of
More Extensive Fruit Planting

The state board Of horticulture,
through its secretary, Joseph II. Parry
has Just issued bulletin No. Of the
Southern Utah Experiment Farm. on
"orohard Experiments for the Promo.
tion OF Fruit Growing in Southern
Utah" The bulletin ie profusely illus
trated with Photographic Views Of the
farm buildings, orchards and vineyards
and gives IN detail the varied expert.
ments which have been conducted on
the farm located near ST. George, by
the state board VI horticulture since the
farm was established Ave years ago.
The issuing OF the bulletin at this
time is quite opportune, IN view Of the
present agitation for the establish
ment OF another horticultural expert.
ment station IN the north-ceutral sec
tion Of the state, as an adjunct OF
the station at Logan. showing as Il does
the great value OF experimental work
10 the fruit growing Industry
VALUE or EXPERIMENTAL WORK
AS the climate. soil and other condi-
tions OF southern Utah are especially
adapted to the growing Of Ninlicra
grapes, Hgs, almonds, pomegfanates
and other semi.tropical fruits, and us
this industry Is the chief agricultural
dependence Of the people OF Washington
county, the need and value Of large eX.
perimental Work had long been felt by
Dixie farmers. II was not only needed
40 .I.f ma ts
and varletis Of trees and vines to plant,
but also to Illustrate how TO plant,
prune, cultivate and lrrlgate the same
for the best results, and then to take
care Of the fruit and show how to pre-
pare II for commercial purposes.
The work Of the farm Is intended 10
eaVe orchard and vineyard growers
years of costly experiments. and from
expensive mistakes, In former bull
lotin (No. l. Grape Growing and Rais-
in-Making in Southern UtahD, Issued
in January. 1904, Is shown the value OF
the work done at this experiment farm
IN developing and promoting the grape
and raisin industry In southern U,ah.
Five years ago this Industry was an IN
significant factor In the economic con-
ditions of this region but through the
influence Of the experiment farm, the
klONAl VI VIC ~ PC lllAAbNls 10 al teAAy
very marked, and the viticultural fu.
ture OF Dixie seems assured, Tens OF
thousands OF vines have been SET out
throughout this region, and over IN Ne
vada, particularly Of raisin grapes, and
nm impetus given the industry that as
sures It's success. What benefits the
experiment farm has done for grape
culture promises soon 20 be duplicated
I'm the culture Of figs, almonds ponce
Rranates, peaches and other CONNER
clal fruits and nuts From its orchards
and vineyards, embracing a very large
number OF varieties. have already been
scattered thousands Of sclons buds and
cuttings Of new and promising fruits
among the farmers Of the entire Dixie
country,
The farm has illustrated, year after
year the economical and proper use
and application OF water when used In
irrlgating soils heavily charged with
alkal salts II has demonstrated the
value OF clean and thorough orchard
culture. which has not only kept tho
mineral In check. but has also con-
served the moisture and kept the trees
and vines healthy and thrifty with the
use Of less than half the water used
on adjacent irrigated farms.
As the southern Utah experiment
farm has now arrived at that stage
whore expert technical experimental
work is needed TO accomplish the object
had IN view IN It's establishment, II N
now proposed TO transfer the direct
management OF the farm TO the Agr-
cultural college experiment station, as
ISOLATED with the state board Of hortl-
culture for advisory purposes, The
board holds that all experimental work
IN horticulture and other branches OF
agriculture should be done under one
management, for considerations OF EN-
cheney AZ well az Of economy There
would then be 20 duplicating OF eXpen-
blve experiments, and each sub-statlon
would have the benefit Of all the profess
Blonal, engineering and mechanical Hd-
vantages enjoyed at the central sta
lion
GRAPE CULTURE PREDOMINANT.
A great variety OF fruits, nuts and
grapes are on trial at the 81, George
farm, Grape culture has received a
large share Of attention from the fact
that the climate and other conditions
Of Dixie warrant the presumption that
gitloulture viii become the chief hort-
cultural industry Of this entire region,
and when II IL established on a perma-
nent and intelligent basis II will be-
come source OF untold wealth to this
section OF the state Early fruits OF the
peach and apple viii also soon become
important economic factors I'm this dis
trict, as soon as shipping facilities
favor this branch OF the Industry,
The Introduction Of new varieties Of