Imperial Valley press and the Imperial press., 1907-03-30

and the selling price here is six to sev- en cents.
 In Arizona where climatic conditions are quite similar, hogs have been grown for thirty years with singular freedom, as here, from any serious disease. At this time the hog production is said to reach nearly five thousand fatted hogs shipped to Los Angeles monthly, being loaded here in the evening and reaching their destination the next morning. One other consideration which makes hog production popular here is the ease ana inexpensiveness wiih which one may start in in that line and the rapidi- ty with which they can grow into a very large and very profitable business-net- ting many thousand of dollars yearly. McKim Bros. sold last year over ten thousand dollars worth of hogs produced on their farm.
 By reason of the large production of alfalfa and almost constant sunshine this Valley is destined soon to be very large producer of bees and honey prod- ucts. In the line of vegetable produc- tions the soil shows great adoption and productiveness. We have here the rath- CT singular feature of two garden plant ing seasons annually, one about the first of October for winter gardening, includ- ing almost all vegetables except beans; the other season for planting comes in February, when any vegetable may be planted and produced with luxurious- ness of growth that is constant sur prise to tenderfoot. The limits of this paper precludes the full,. consideration of the production of the Valley, yet ex. permentation has proceeded far enough to warrant the belief that citrus fruits may be as successfully produced here as elsewhere in this state, but possibly re- quiring slight protection during the first winter after planting, yet this has not heretofore been done and many young trees may be seen with fine showing offruit. By reason of their special adapt ability the desire to mention few things cannot be resisted; these include grapes, figs and dates, asparagus and canta- loupes. The first and last of these men. toned enables the gr"wer to obtain prices so fabulous the writer is unwill- ing to hazard his reputation for veracitv by giving them. Figs can be produced more cheaply bushel for bushel than corn in the western states. Dates are yet in the experimental stage, yet trees but three years from planting after hay ing been out of the ground for six months and travelled half round the world to reach here are fruiting this season, this being the famous Deglet Noir variety from which the agricultural department at Washington is expecting astonishing results. Cotton has been raised in small way but sufficient to demonstrate that it can be produced at profit of from fifty to seventy-tive dollars per acre.
 Mir. Roth, who for many years has been producer of cantaloupes at Rocky Ford, Colorado, does not hesitate to give the Imperial Valley the preference over Rocky Ford and says the canta- loupes produced here are sweeter and of finer flavor, while here there is a com plete immunity from frost, hail and rust and other great advantages, such as having the whole winter for preparation and much longer season for growth to say. nothing of cheaper lands and rell- able supply of water. Although most of the land is new and poorly adapted to the purpose some of the growers se- cured as high as from $l00. .00 to $200.O0 per acre net for their crop. Last year witnessed the first efforts ill the Valley at growing cantaloupes mostly of prime quality. Three hundred cars were pro uuced. There are many other things which may be produced here to as great advantage as those mentioned, yetspace will not permit their further considera- tiOn. Lands can be secured here by purchase from those holding patents and also from those who have submitted their proof of compliance with all the requirements of the law and there are some opportunities to secure assign ments and also relinquishment of claims for small consideration, pending d more complete survey of the lands; most of them have been temporarily witt drawn from market, hence no filings are being made. The prices of land ranges from $30.00 to $l00.00 per acre depending more on location than quality for almost all the land is good and there is won derful uniformity of quality. There is now one hundred thousand acres under cultivation in this Valley and about two hundred thousand which may be added 1
 With just moderately intensified cul- tivation the Imperial Valley can support several hundred thousand population and with these conditions realized what will be the value of the land? A hun dred dollars per acre? Yes. Two hun dred? Yes, three hundred in many places yes and much more as is now the case in Los Angeles and the ad djacent counties.
 The land being formed by water is la. ka. Il,