Arizona republican., 1922-04-16
FACTS ON GROWING
OF CITRUS FRUIT IN
SALT RIVER VALLEY
BY I. de r. Miller
Secretary Arizona Citrus Growers
Association

ASSOCIATION
The Salt River valley has long
appealed to the citrus growers as an
ideal location for the growing OF
trees. The early groves We're put
out about rs years ago and amply
justified expectations. On account Of
the limited supply of water in carly
days and the peculiarities of climatic
conditions. which had to be learned.
the increase in the acreage while
steady, has until lately been slow
There are now about 1900 acres of
citrus fruit planted along the mount
aims circling the valley and fruit
from these trees is topping the citrus
markets of the country year after
year.
The early spring and warm sum
mer results in the production of the
early navel orange to reach market
very early and soil conditions give it
such flavor that it has a large sugar
content, making it one of the sweet
est oranges produced. The Seeding
and Valencia oranges are likewise
early to ripen.
The Arizona grapefruit is a prod
uct of later development and has
made its way to an enviable position
as the equal of Florida.
There still remains a large acreage
available for citrus fruit as water is
developed on the higher lands about
the foothills even freed from frost
possibilities. Favorable markets for
early fruits assures the grower that
no matter how large an acreage may
be planted, the sale of his product
viii not be affected. An excellent
mutual packing and marketing or
ganization is taking care of the
growers fruit and bringing about
continuously advantageous condig
tions. The production of the valley is
about one hundred and fifty ears
(half grapefruit and half oranges). !.
it is shipped all over the country and
the result has been an average of
between and cents a pound for
| oranges and from to cents for the
! grapefruit grown. This means that
| the orange prices obtained is far in
excess of that secured by California
| or Florida growers; while the grape
| fruit commands about the same av-
/ erage price in market as the best
grade of Florida. Returns per acre
vary greatly of course, with the ex-
cellency of tile development of the
individual orchard. From $500 to
/ $500 an acre for oranges and about
! the same on grapefruit on account of
y
4 some larger sums have been realized.
The cost of production of fruit is
! lower in Arizona than in California,
/ chiefly on account of the cheaper
! water. Fertilizing conditions are
about the same, though the great
| abundance of water in the Salt River
valley permits of two cover crops
here. The orange comes into COM
mercial bearing at four to five years
and the grapefruit about one year
earlier. The average cost OF the
i young grove win be about SIS an acre
/ for a year, which or course can be
lessened by inter- cropping where
that method seems advisable. The
ambitious orange grower. however,
would rather add to his soil even at
the added exL ense OF production. The
trees should be in full bearing by
the time they are eight years old
The amount produced viii vary from
800 to zoe boxes of grapefruit.
Lemons also have proved success
full in a small scale and should be
very profitable on the higher lands
now being brought under cultivation
Horse power and tractors are
generally used throughout the valley
as the individual grove demands
both with their proper conditions
and care are satisfactory in cultiva-
tion.
OF all the industries in the Salt
River valley. extending over large
period of it's existence as a cultivated
area. citrus growing has proved OF
the most stable and profitable. while