Arizona republican., 1922-01-01
BY Arthur G. Freeland


With the Salt River valley grape
fruit of the Marsh variety unques-
tionably the superior OF any grape
fruit raised in any portion of the
United States, and our Washington
naval and Valencia oranges as fine
as the best raised elsewhere. the de-
ciduous fruit situation in the valley
has not obtained as prominent
market or general reputation and
position as it justly deserves or as
the citrus interests have secured for
themselves. Even without any kind
of a marketing association or CO.
operative organization among the
growers, there exists in the Salt
River valley q very considerable
acreage of deciduous trees, produc
ing choice fruit which will compare
favorably with the best Of its kind
raised anywhere else in the United
States.
Apart from grapes only apricots,
peaches, pears and plums are grown
here commercially in sufficient guam
titles to warrant their consideration
as commercial fruits of the valley.
and I will limit my review of the
year 1921 and outlook for 1922 to
these four varieties Of deciduous
fruits.
In discussing what has been done
with these four fruits in the past and
what seem to be their future possi-
bilities here, the writer's actual ex-
perience with them, whether or not
it be the general and average exper-
ience of other growers throughout
the valley, must naturally and largely
enter into the observations and opin-
ions expressed herein. AS far as
possible in the time given. the writer
has discussed the matter with num-
Der Of deciduous growers, nurserymen
and fruit experts, with the result that,
in the main their views coincide with
those expressed in this article.
To let it be inferred, for instance,
that currants, cherries, raspberries
and apples in general can be made
to grow commercially and profitably
in this valley is the height of folly
and gets us nowhere with those un-
informed regarding these particular
fruits. / don't mean to say for
moment that any one is going to de-
liberately misinform a prospective
orchardist, but let the matter be gem
orally known. Far better to tell the
exact truth and build up our Won
derful sunshine valley-one of the
ON firm foundation of facts and
square dealing and speaking, not
only among ourselves but with
strangers whom we desire to have
join us. We have plenty of products
which grow here magnificently and
profitably, so we shouldn't fear to
speak of those that either won't grow
at all or at best indifferently.
Care In Selecting Nursery
The word of general caution in the
preceding paragraph, is directed not
only to prospective orchardfsts
among strangers, but to residents
here who contemplate setting out an
orchard. Consultation should be had
with those already in the business,
great care should be exercised in Sc
lecting a nursery, to the end that
true-to-name stock, healthy and Wig
orous, and of variety suitable to
the climate, may be obtained, and
provision made for sufficient capital
to carry the undertaking for its four
or five years of waiting for the first
substantial crop OF fruit.
One Of the principal difficulties In
growing fruit here is the long dry
summer heat. The sun is so hot and
the air so dry that the evaporation is
very rapid, SAID to amount TO from
80 to rs inches per annum in some
localities. With our plentiful supply
of irrigation water, the problem be-
comes simply one OF applying the
correct amount Of water, so that the
sun evaporation through the leaves
will not take away more of the water
drawn UP by the tree from the earth
than the tree needs for it's own life
and growth. BY heading the trees
quite low, protecting the trunk and
bark from sun -scald, there Is a
greater supply of moisture retained
for the use of the tree. AS a general
proposition, trees like apricots and
plums, having thick leaves, with
small evaporating surfaces and a
minimum Of pores that admit of rapid
Transportation, should do well in this
climate.
AS regards peaches 1t is the writ
er's opinion that the climate is just
a trifle too dry to warrant their
growth, commercially and profitahly.
The peach, under the most favorable
circumstances, is generally consid-
cred to have comparatively short
bearing career, covering at the best