Imperial Valley press., 1920-03-02

about 100 pounds of dates, which solo
for a dollar pound.
i Fifty PsRegranates.
Superintendent Goar planted about
/ fifty pomegranate trees-not for pro-
ducing purposes-and found they
thrive very well, the fruit selling at
from Z to II cents q pound. As a
result Of the yield several acres of
pomegranates are being planted by
ranchers in the valley this year.
Three varieties of figs were found
to do very well at the farm and pro-
duced a good crop. They are the
Smyrna, the White Adriatic and the
San Pedros. The pollenation of these
trees is carried forward by small
white insect known as the fig wasp.
Figs are generally said to be a
good crop in the valley both for home
consumption and commercial raising.
Loquats were also found to thrive
we'll enough for home use, but not
we'll enough to warrant their being
grown for commerce. They are the
earliest Of all the valleys fruits, but
it is not thought practicable to raise
them for commercial purposes.
OllNSS "SIc lOulid az lIiC lal III " OC
good crop, the Mission variety Civ
ing the best yield. They are con-
sidered a good staple commercially.
Pineapple Ounce Best
Experiments shows that out of four
varieties grown, the pineapple ounce
gave the best yield, though Superin-
tendent Goar does not thing them
practical for commercial purposes.
The Jujube, Chinese fruit, much
used in the manufacturing and flavor
ing of high class candies, thrives very
we'll in the valley. The fruit carries
a blending of the avors of the fig and
date, and is very pleasant tasting. 1t
is considered one of the coming fruits
to be cultivated in this section and
always finds a ready market.
While no variety of apple seems to
do we'll thus far, the pear crop, par
ticularly the Bartlett and winter
Bartlett produce in great abundance
and either one, or the Keiffer pear
will be found to make a paying COM
mercial crop.
! The early Wheeler and the Honey
Peach, while growing plentifully most
anywhere in the valley, are not con-
sidered a good commercial crop, due
to the fact that they are too soft to
stand shipping.
Grape Fruit Is Fine
Citrus fruits do extremely well
here, and the Marsh seedless is found
the most prolific of the grapefruits
for commercial uses. The Washing
ton naval orange and all varieties of
tangerenese may be grown anywhere
in the valley.
Recently some specimens of locally
grown grapefruit were sent by Pro-
fessor Gilmore to the division of citri-
culture of the University of Califor-
mia, where hundreds of products of
! similar nature are received annually.
Their verdict that the specimens
were of very superior quality goes
far towards establishing their future
as a marketable product.
/ Superintendent Goar is at present
checking the MariouS with the COM
mon variety of barley for production
purposes, to compare results with
those obtained at the state agricul-
tural farm at Davis, to ascertain
whether or not the comparative yield
in this important product will equal
that OF the upstate institution, where
it was found the Mariout variety
yielded from Is to 20 per cent great
er crop than the old California var
iety.
The experimental farm here is con.
stantly engaged in making soil tests
for alkali, and in this connection many
of alkaline salts.
Apricots Do Well.
With this in mind Mr.. Goar ha
gone more deeply into grasses thai
would ordinarily be done at simila
institutions for the sole purpose o
observing the most advantageous crol
for soils bearing heavy percentage
. of alkaline salts. Elephant grass o
napier fodder as it is known here
= abouts, has been found to thrive wei
!. where surface indications show a
high as 5 per cent alkali. This be
! cause of the fact that this particula
= grass root will assimilate sufficien
{ nutriment from the earth to give
:. full vitalitq. 1t is also known tha
=. the average crop per acre in thi
y grass averages 20 tons.
u There is a certain section of tn
valley where alkali has nearly tn
a percentage, and the grass is particl
e larly adapted to the overcoming {
n this setback.
n Three varieties Of apricots hay
l. also been found to thrive we'll at tt
n experimental farm, the Smyrna, New
II castle and Royal. All of these fruit
e bear amply sufficient fruit for con
nnercial purposes, the chief conditic
At against their growth and cultivate
le is said to be the life of the tree, whic
IN in most cases has been found to a
D. erage about seven years, althouf
he there are several apricot orchards
ne the valley having trees more than
years. Authorities maintain, ho'
te ever, the apricot will do well in Il
I'd valley.