Los Angeles herald., 1910-03-06

LOS ANGELES HERA]
conceded. are delicacy, and in most
countries an impossible LUXURY, but
here they are not uncommon.
Cotton culture promises 10 become
an important industry in Yuma valley.
The soil, climate and water combine
to produce gross returns greater than
the average cotton lands of the south.
The United States department of
agriculture has been experimenting
the past two seasons with Egyptian
cotton, variety that is particularly
adapted to our climatic conditions.
The excellent length, strength and fine
ness of the Egyptian cotton fiber gives
it market value nearly twice that of
short staple upland cotton. Average
gross returns of 800 an Gcre can be
depended upon in cotton culture-W
A. Peterson, superintendent Yuma ex-
pertinent station.
Yuma valley tales of sweet potatoes
tend to engender grave doubts in the
minds Of those who don't know Yuma
valley. But the toothsome southern
tubers speak for themselves. and fat
ten the bank accounts of those who
grow them. Attaining tremendous size
the Yuma valley sweet potato does not
possess the stringiness and unpal-
atableness of the large sizes grown
elsewhere, but, on the other hand, Is
deliciously sweet. Potatoes of twenty
pounds In weight are not infrequent,
while they have been known twice as
large. One grower dug four hills on
Christmas day, taking therefrom 116
pounds. Another grower received $500
for an acre and a quarter planted in
April and dug In October or November
Other instances of great profit could
be cited indefinitely.
In spite of the handsome profits to
be realized from growing and market
ing in original packages" of the Vari-
Gus grains, cereals, folders and hays to
which attention has been directed there
are nevertheless many who firmly hold
to the belief that still greater profits
are to be realized from the converting
of these products into stock Of various
kinds-into beef steers and hogs. or
better still, into choice dairy stock or
fine horses.
Profit in Live Stock
Whichever line of industry may yield
the greater profit, certain il is that
Yuma valley possesses ideal conditions
for the growing Of live stock of any
and every kind, and those who are de-
voting themselves to ii profess to be
contented with their lot. Dairy herds
are profitable and fine horses are in
great demand at good prices. Hogs
are easily grown, being immune from
disease under the healthful conditions
existing, while alfalfa. barley and corn
constitute a feed which gives them
both early weight and delicious flavor.
Poultry ranks high up among the
valleys revenue producers. OF course
a ta1 20
chickens and their ducks, maybe their
geese and their turkeys. but in Yuma
valley are numerous farmers who put
most of their eggs in the chicken bas-
ket-and take many fold therefrom.
There appears no danger of Cutting
the chicken market. and a brighter
prospect could hardly be conceived
than that which confronts the syste-
matte poultrymen of this section.
Poultrymen of otherwhere will be
justified in sitting up and taking no
tice when they read of such results
as realizing $40 net per hen during
the season of 1905 and increasing this
to S2.43 during the season of 1907.
Agriculture has for several years
claimed no little attention, and the
industry is rapidly becoming more
popular. A score of apiaries are with
out exception producing handsome rev.
mesquite and other growths, coupled
with the ever-present alfalfa bloom,
produce a white honey unequaled In
looks and excellence. 1t commands the
top price and enjoys an unlimited
market.
The deciduous fruit industry has not
yet been developed to an extent which
is plainly possible. but enough has
| been accomplished to prove that a
great future is in store for it. BY ca
tering to the early market, Yuma val
| ley fruit will occupy a class by itself
and bring handsome returns to the
horticulturists. A pear orchard pro-
duced a revenue of $3.50 per acre. April
cots reach the market ahead OF all
competitors and bring handsome prices.
Delicious figs ripen during the early
days of May and command almost un-
believable prices, while a regular Sec
ond crop adds to the profit. Peaches.
plums and persimmons do well, and
some varieties OF almost every sort of
deciduous fruit grown anywhere. From
one five-year-old plum tree was picked
200 pounds.
Some of the commercial nuts have
been proven, notably almonds and
pecans.
Grape culture will soon be numbered
among the important industries of the
valley. Conditions are ideal for raisin
making, while table grapes of the high
est quality are marketed from May to
| December
AS a result of extensive experiments
being conducted by the United States
department of agriculture, the suc-
cess of date culture in this sun kissed
| spot is assured, thus adding to the
avenues of profit in which other sec
| tions of the Union may not enter. The
| choicest varieties of Persian and Ara
bian dates come to perfect maturity,
and the vast sums of money which an
nually go for the importing of this pop
ular fruit will in a few years be di-
verted to the small area of country in
which the date may be grown at home,
besides having a delicacy-fresh dates
-at present unknown to but few
Americans. Estimates of $1,000 a year
profit from an acre of date plans is
thought to be conservative.
Olives grow to perfection, both oil
and the picked fruit equaling the sim
liar products of any country in the
world.
All Fruits Flourish
OF the small fruits, Strawberries and
blackberries have been the most thor
oughly proven. Strawberries ripen all
the way from January-and even a
little earlier--to June, and the market
is unlimited. Blackberries are great
croppers and find ready sale.
In citrus fruits the mesa land sep
arating the valley below Yuma and
! that above Yuma, and which will also
come under the Yuma project, excel
The oranges, lemons and pomelos, or
grape fruit, here grown are acknowl-