Arizona republican., 1907-01-11
RURAL PROSPERITY
 LESSON FROM LIFE
What Can be Done in This Valley Is Best Illustrated by What Is Being Done by Hall Bros.

Done by Hall Bros.
 The Salt River valley has passed through one era as a fruit producing section and is now entering upon an- other. The first was a disastrous one due both to inexperience and to lack of water. More trees were planted than there was water to irrigate and the supply was further depreciated by the improper use of it. Now that the valley has got its second wind" in the fruit business, so to speak, it bids fair to be- come one of the greatest and most widely known fruit sections on earth. Most of the older vineyards died or were dug up as was the case with many of the orchards, during the strenuous years. while many lines of fruit culture equally as we'll adapted to this valley, were never even experimentally engag- ed in. In anticipation of stored water many are now planting orchards and vineyards and a year later many more will do so and the present growers have the benefit of the most valuable expe- riences of the growers of other days.
 Among those who are doing most for the fruit interests of the valley and who have made a success of the busi- ness even during the strenuous years, are the Hall brothers, who have a forty acre tract of land about five and a half miles southwest of the city and who have also been for years the local agents of the famous nursery of Stark brothers of Louisiana, Missouri. One half Of the Hall brothers farm is now devoted to fruit and the most Of the rest of it will be as soon as it can be planted to such things as they desire to plant. Their purpose Is not merely to raise a large quantity of fruit else would they require more land, but rather to utilize their farm in part as an experiement farm for the testing of all kinds of fruits possible to be adapt ed to this valley. devoting the remain ing acreage to fruit raising for the market. They propose to give the pres ent and prospective fruit raisers of the valley the benefit of their experimental ton and also by actually raising and proving the varieties of plants handled by the Stark brothers nursery they will be able to furnish their patrons the very best varieties for this soil and climate and tell them just what may be expected. not only in character of fruit but in the methods of its successful culture. The Stark Bros. nursery ham, dles most everything that grows but there are a few plants and a few spe- cial varieties not handled, that are found to be better adapted to this sec- ! ton. and varieties the Halls vii! pro- .I, rT-r-
 Bros. have been engaged in fruit rais- ing and gardening for the last thirty years, in Iowa and Arizona and are surely well equipped by experience tc carry out their purpose.
 In furtherance of this project they have been engaged during the last five or six years in getting their forty acre farm we'll started and are now ideally | located and comfortably situated. They have not only got just what they want in point of soil. location and equipment | but they also have sufficient fruit trees in bearing to return them annual ly handsome profit. Recognizing the mutual profits that are likely to ensue Stark Bros. nursery has agreed to fur nish free. specimens of all trees and l
 this locality and Hall Bros. are to make the experiments with them. Many they Y have tried and proved or rejected in former years so they are well prepared to name the best varieties in all the larger fruits grown here. but there is a vast work of experimenting still to be done with the smaller fruits and berries. and Hall Bros. have already entered upon it. The Stark nursery has furnished them for this years expert ments seventeen different varieties of pear trees, other than those already proved. and thirty-one varieties of blackberTies, red raspberries. black raspberries. gooseberries and entrants | Furthermore the Halls have given the Arizona Experiment. station farm which is crowded for room, the use oi the acreage necessary for experiment. ing with about thirty-two varieties of ' plums and peaches.
 A reporter for The Republican yes terday visited the Hall farm and in company with one of the owners made tour of the premises. securing at first hand the information given above and that which is to follow. Some of the observations of MT. Thomas Hall on tree culture are herwith given for the help they may be to readers generally. In the first place he spoke of the plant ing. He said that in this country he was convinced better results were se- cured from planting in the spring in- stead of in the fall as many have here tofore practiced. The fruit trees also should be planted leaning to the west at an angle of about 45 degrees. or to- ward the sun at o'clock in the after noon. This is to prevent scalding the trunk of the tree. during the long hot summer. one of the things the fruit grower has to contend with most in this country and the thing that kills event. ually, great many trees improperly planted. The advantage of the leaning tree is that at the hour of the day when the sun is hottest, the rays will fall lengthwise with the trunk and not directly at right angles, to scald it on one side. Another recommendation made is to plant deeply. Contrary ad- vice has been given by some men who should speak with authority. but the Halls give good reasons and have the results to show for it. Peach trees are usually transplanted at one year and apple. pear. cherry and other trees at two years. The peach trees should be planted from two to two and a half | feet deep and most other trees clear tO