Omaha daily bee., 1911-01-27
PRODUCING BIG FRUIT CROPS
Climate of Utah is Just Right for
Orchards.
FINE RECORD IN STATE FOR 1910
Total OF One million Fruit Trees
Planted DurInE Year and Much
Greater Number VIII BE set
This sprinE.

This sPriRE.
BY J. EDWARD TAYLOR. STATE HOR-
TICULTURAL INSPECTOR.
Few states in the union have the divers
ity OF climate that IL found in the state
/ of Utah. consequently few can produce
/ the variety of horticultural crops grown
within it's borders. She has every degree
Of climate, from the sub-tropical Dixie"
! land in the southern part, where the figs
/ and pomegranates grow in profusion, to
| the more temperate mountain valleys OF
the north, which produce the crisp apple
| in all its perfection.
Some idea Of the Importance which this
industry is assuming can be gained from
the fact that nearly 100000 fruit trees
were planted in the orchards of Utah In
1910 The planting in 1909 was equally large
and from all reports there will be still
greater number set in the spring OF 1911.
About five-eighths Of the area is devoted
to apples. one-third to peaches and the
balance to cherries. pears and apricots,
plums prunes, small fruits and berries in
the order named.
some Early Experiments.
Fruit growing in Utah began with the
arrival of the pioneers in 1S47 and the
growth OF the industry has been steady
and conservative since that time. The
methods of the pioneers were necessarily
crude and much experimental work had
. TO be done to demonstrate the possibilities.
The original idea was one OF home con-
sumption entirely, but the production soon
outgrew the local markets and with the
, advent Of the railroad It became necessary
to revise the system and adopt different
, methods The old orchard had to be re-
moved and replaced with varieties adapted
TO the demands of the market. This
[ checked the development Of the industry
( somewhat for a few years, but the excel
e lent results obtained by the pioneers were
5 soon manifest In commercial orchards.
Soils and Climate.
The soils Of Utah are extremely fertile
: containing all the ingredients which thou
sands Of years of erosion have accumu
!, lated. The air is dry and clear and there
is an abundance Of sunshine. BY meanI
> of irrigation the water Is supplied wher
needed. This makes an ideal combination
for fruit Notwithstanding a product with
. all the desirable commercial features. in
, Guiding flavor, size. color. freedom from
blemish. and keeping qualities coupled
. with maximum yields. There 10 sufficien
q diversity Of crops and animal production
II on the farms adjoining the orchards Il
l. insure the maintenance OF everlasting fer
e tility in the land. Sunshine is one of tn
n important factors in the production o
m fruit The SUMS rays insure a large suga
content and likewise prevent the develop
10 ment OF fungous diseases so detrimental
IT not only to the keeping quality of fruit
N but TO the appearance as well. That on
N fruit has good keeping qualities is bes
IF demonstrated in the Elborta peach. !
v is not an unusual occurrence to have
* carload Of peaches sold in the easter
Of markets, such as Boston, four weeks afte
being shipped. One car has been know
to be six weeks between the orchard an
~ the consumer, and still bring a good pric,
10 Pears from Utah have been shipped {
" Liverpool, England, with satisfactory n
n suits to the grower and shipper.
ut Markets for Utah.
81 Utah peaches and apples arc shipped I
J" every large market from Los Angeles I
Z British Columbia on the west and mort
T. and from New Orleans to Boston on III
" south and east and to all points in b.
III tween. These markets are being gradual
re extended to keep pace with the increasin
70 production and It is only a question of
- short time when Utah fruits win be invaC
he ing Europe. While there is a great de,
! OF talk of over-production the ingenuity
no the Yankee can be depended upon to COZ
- vert the products OF the orchards int
profits.
With less than 30 per cent Of the plantc
area bearing We are producing abot
on 1000 cars OF fruit annually, which, wi,
y the local consumption and manufacture
as fruit products, brings the total value
he 20 1t,v
't- the next six years, when orchards con
II into bearing. the production will exec,
&c tlb,OOO.OOO The state is particularly 70
Oh tunate in the matter OF railroad facIliti
I'm for the transportation OF fresh fruit. Sp
,eI cial fruit trains from California over Il
DC Southern-Union Pacific, Western Pacf
Gu and the Salt Lake Route pass throuI
~ the state daily, affording railroad servi
w enjoyed by few orchard sections OF Il
west
he All Growers Protected.
ng Every safeguard is put around the grow
he to prevent the invasion OF any serious 4
IRA sect pest or diseases. The state maintali
rigid inspection In all orchards, nuTseri
zen and markets, using every precautlon
ng prevent losses. The number of pests viii
we are prevalent and doing damage to crops
len comparatively small and those that a
ow present can easily be controlled by mode
ing methods OF spraying. The horticultural d
Ted partment of the Agricultural college is e
lily tremey active in experimental work a
In bringing TO the attention Of the grove
at approved scientific methods.
pre- With the development OF the oroha
&C. land there has been q simultaneous q
OF velopment OF the auxiliary entsrpris,
r. such as the canning factory. cider m
-, and sugar factory. These are especial
" helpful in the development of young
chards giving the GrOwer a market at
IN contract price for crop which he c
raise between the trees. Thus the sxper
Of maintaining the orchard until Il gets