Arizona republican., 1908-04-01

districts in the country, is cantaloupe raising Mesa melons were granted first prize at \the St Louis Fair, in recognition of their flavor and quality They are much earlier than the Rocky Ford melons and therefore do not come into competition with them- They mature quickly. Being planted in April, they are placed on the mar ket three months from the day of planting thus leaving the ground in ample time for some other crop. Tn the last five years cantaloupe raising has developed into science. At the same time the output has increased from shipment of seven cars in 1902 to a hundred and siXty-three in the summer of 1906. Under intelligent cultivation a profit of S200 per acre is realized.
 ORANGES.
 In the growing of this semi -tropicai fruit the lands about Mesa have the same advantages, as with melon cut ture.
 OTHER CITRUS FRUITS.
 A considerable acreage is being de- voted to the cultivation of lemons and grape fruit
 GRAPES.
 Grapes have been raised in the val lev from the very beginning, but the industry is particularly identified with Mesa. Table, wine and raisin grapes are produced with almost equal sue cess, the tendency among the farmers being to restrict themselves to seedless varieties. Arizona grapes command a top price in the eastern markets. They have decided and agreeable flavor.
 PEACHES.
 From orchards within the city limits of Mesa. peaches are annually picked which weigh three-quarters of pound and are solid and sweet to the pit Arizona peaches generally mature from two to three weeks earlier than those from any other western point. and thus reap the benefit of an early market.
 STRAWBERRIES.
 According to estimates of the eXper- mental station of the United States Department of Agriculture, strawber- ries can be grown in the valley at profit of s35O per acre. As matter of fact. in one or two known cases. near Mesa a net profit of 5000 an acre has been realized. The strawberry is firm and therefore easily packed and shipped.
 WATERMEloNs.
 Like it's kindred fruit, the cantaloupe the watermelon does eXcellently.
 DATES
 The United States government has an experimental farm near Mesa where fifty varieties of date palm may
 
 are African and Asiatic dates. many of which. it was formerly contended. could not be grown in Arizona. A date of ordinary variety but of good size and very sweet, has been culti- vated in the valley for many years. To eat this delicious fruit directly from the tree is an experience never to be forgotten.
 ALMONDS
 Almonds are grown in great quanti- ties and of fine quality. OLIVES.
 This fruit has been cultivated with great success for many years. Two factories in the valley are engaged in the. manufacture of olive oil At the Columbian exposition a gold medal was awarded to this oil.
 OTHER FRUITS.
 Planted originally for shade trees, the fig is now q familiar sight in any farm yard. II produces two and some times three crops year. Pears. plums and apricots are raised for home consumption. Even apples. in small quantities, are grown in the hill coun- try east of Mesa.
 VEGETABLES
 The South Side country produces her own vegetables. This is form of extensive cultivation to which the country is well adapted. Many farm CTS here do not raise their own garden truck depending on some one who makes a speciality of the work. Vege- table raising has thus become an inde pendent business.
 CATTLE. Among fruit growers and commis- sion men generally. the Salt River val ley is now a familiar name. Buyers for the stock yards. east and vast, however. know the valley for its fine beef cattle. Here in the valley. as you remember. alfalfa yields five and six crops a year. Thc-alfalfa fields are always green. The weather is always very mild. With these conditions so favorable to stock-raising it has come about that d greater and greater num- Der of cattle are annually pastured on the valley farms. In the neighboring mountains many thousand steers are pastured on the open range. During at least nine months of the year large herds are thus grazed at a minimum expense. Late in the fall these cattle are driven down into the valley and fattened on alfalfa. owing to the cli- mate they require no housing. Many car loads of the finest beef cattle are shipped from Mesa annually.
 DAIRY PRODUCTS. A local demand for dairy products has encouraged an interest in milk