Imperial Valley press., 1921-12-23
DATE PALMS HAVE
GREAT FUTURE
Continued from Page y

the defense Of the opinions formed
This situation has naturally been very
confusing to the ranchers who are
anxious to know if the dates are a
promising crop for their ranches. as
well as to the business and profession
al man, in fact to every one who is
interested in the future of the valley.
To overcome this advantage
somewhat | desire to make few
statements the correctness of which !
believe will be agreed upon by every
one who has given the matter any
study. In the first place this valley
can produce date fully as desirable
as any produced in any other locality.
The soil and climatic conditions seem
to be we'll adapted to the production
of heavy crop and the tree fruits at
an carly age. In fact in these matters
the development seems to correspond
favorably with grapes and grapefruit.
IN regard to favorable soil it is only
necessary to state that the date palm
lis not eXacting in its soil require
mcnts and a very large percentage
lof this valley is suitable for its cul-
tivation. Also it will stand neglect
and maintain itself under unfavorable
sol and moisture conditions, but it re
spends pleasantly to proper care and
growing conditions and this ready re-
sponse is reflected both in the guam
tity and quality of the fruit produced
as we'll as in the said development and
early fruiting.
In regard to expected returns from
producing gardens, will say that each
well cared for tree should produce al
least one hundred pounds each year,
and this fruit brings at least three
cents a pound over and above all ex-
tpenses. Basing our estimates on these
figures, it would appear that the dat,
palm garden meeting these require
mcnts would return 16 2-3 per cent net
ito the aowner on an investment OF
$4,000 per acre, which is a liberal al
lowance for planting and caring for
garden with trees now available
These figures are based on very
moderate estimate of possible fruit
production and returns from the same
and a party using them as a basis .oi
estimated returns from a we'll carel
for garden should be pleasantly sur
prised in results achieved.
The trees. that can now be secured
for planting consist largely of off
shoots from trees grown from seeds
that were issued some years ago ti
the rancher by the government expert
mental stations. A limited number OF
these offshoots can be secured fol
planting, and if care is exercised il
selection and process of elimination
Ipursued the offshoots can be made OF
Igrcat Importance in this their secon(
generation and become more and more
interesting in each following one
The present date market makes il
possible to market all but very
small percentage of the fruit at mos
attractive price of 25 cents per pounC
and up.
In addition to these seeding off
shoots, Rowland Reed has a number o
offshoots on the trees growing in hi,
gardens east of Imperial and if he sees
fit to dispose of any of them, an
Satisfied that those familiar with The
performance Of the parent palm,
would be willing to pay an increased
price for them and would be justified
lin expecting the returns from the
fruit to compensate for the added ex.
penditure. These offshoots constitute
the only considerable group of import
ed Offshoots now growing in this val
ley. AS soon as any of the trees now
held in quarantine in the CoachclIa
Valley are released for sale or any
further importations are made, we
hope the Imperial Valley will receive
its share Of them. In the meantime
we can set out all the desirable off
shoots obtainable here and we can see
nothing to keep Imperial Valley from
becoming as much home of the date
as Santa Ana is the great orange in
dustry. | am planting all the promis-
ing effshoots as soon a | can secure
them, and / do not see how anyone