The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1922-03-23
IMPERIAL VALLEY
WONDERFUL SECTION
(By A. d. Moe.)

Wy n. Ds hOS.J
Holtville, Calf, March 10, 1922.
California has three distinct Sec
tions: Northern California. Southern
California and the Imperial Valley.
OF the latter have been wonderfully
impressed with its possibilities, and
believe it has a great future. 1t is
but 20 years old and has made wonder
full progress, but all of its industries
have no more than started. Some
have passed the experimental stage,
others just beginning.
We have been very pleasantly enter
tanned by Mr.. and Mrs. A. M. Kelsay
at Holtville, and to Mr.. Kelsay | am
indebted for trips around this section
of the valley and for information that
could hardly be secured were | among
strangers. He has been here IL years
and has a 90-acre ranch in fine state
of cultivation and is just setting out
half of it to grapes. He has 25 acres
of lettuce this year that will be mar
ketod early in April. and he expects
to ship 25 to 30 carloads. We visited
the Harold Bell Wright ranch, where
the Winning of Barbara Worth" was
written, and also many places men
toned in the book. The engineer
lockwood, called the seer in the book,
died last week in Los Angeles. Most
of the scenes of the book were laid
around Holtville, the dam that was
blown up being close to the city, and
the great cavern caused by the waters
is still untitled.
Most of the California districts are
adapted to but one or two things. The
Imperial valley can raise them all.
There is more diversity of agriculture
and horticulture here than anywhere
else in the west. The first crops
raised by the pioneers were hay and
grain, followed by dairying and sheep
raising. These industries still are i'm
portant and comprise the bulk of the
crops. However, experiments with
more intensified farming have proved
that the land and climate will produce
larger return per acre in fruits and
vegetables, and these are attracting
attention.
"How about the drawbacks to the
ce untry?" | asked Mr.. Kelsay.
"They say that it is often 100 in the
shade in summer.
"Well," said he. "you don't have to
stay in the shade. That reminds me,
L
from Saskatchewan was talking with
an old resident of the valley when |
happened along. They tell me it gets
to be 60 below in your country, SAID
the southerner. oh, it is a dry cold.
we are fixed for it and don't mind 1t.
But | hear it is very hot here in sum-
mer.' Yes, said the southerner. but
it is a dry heat and we don't mind 1t.
Now here is man from oregon,
where it rains all the time in winter.
wouldn't like that 1 simply told
him, oh, it is dry rain, you can be
out in it all day and not get wet. We
don't mind It,.
Every country has its drawbacks.
However, it is not my purpose to
either unduly boost or knock the
country. | believe it has a wonderful
future. The first crops raised were
principally alfalfa and barley, there
being nearly 10000 acres last year,
and these predominate. Livestock
naturally kept pace with hay and
grain and are still an important indus
try. Six million pounds of butter ana
dairy products were produced last year.
The warm, continual sunshine gives
the Imperial valley fast growing
climate that makes the crops mature
ahead of any other section. Attention
was early turned to canteloupes, and
fortunes were made early in the game,
but has not been so profitable late
wears. One operator on large scale
has cleanedsup million dollars In can
teloupes and lives in one of the show
places of Ell Centro. He still grows
from 1000 to 1000 acres of cante-
loupes. Cotton was one OF the big
crops and made lots of money during
the war, but was disaster last year.
However, there will be good deal OF
cotton planted this spring. over 4O, O0O
acres were in cotton last year. Table
grapes have proven very prohtabie
crop. Notwithstanding the many thou
sands of acres of grapes in all parts OF
the state the Imperial crop natures
about a month ahead of other sections.
being ready to ship in June. This
early maturing of crops gives them an
advantage in all lines, as the early
market brings the best returns.
Lettuce is a big crop, about lZ,OOO
carloads being shipped last year. The
cold winter this year has both helped
and harmed lettuce growers. In other
parts of the state the rains and frost
about ruined the crop, and while some
damage was done In Imperial valley,
vet they were able to market most OF
their crop at very profitable figure,
some of it bringing $1,000 car. A
good stand of lettuce will produce over
a car per acre. The crop is planted IN
October, November and December, be-
ing ready for market three months
later. The December planting has
been held back by the cold winter, but
is now doing well and will be ready to
ship early IN April. The last of the
November planting is being shipped
now.
The possibilities of grape fruit is
attracting a good deal OF attention.
Imperial valley grows a grape fruit
that has no competitor, except FLORIDA.
and is sweeter than even the Florida
fruit. While visiting a grape fruit
grove we picked the fruit from the
trees and ate it like an orange, and 1t
was lust as sweet as the Valencia.
Served on the table. it needs little or
no sugar. The demand is so great
where it is known that 1t sells for
double that of the grape fruit raised IN
other sections of the state. Less than
500 acres have been set out, only part
Iy in bearing, and but 23 cars were
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