Imperial Valley press., 1936-06-14
F 4 z M | N &
BRINGS IN
HUGE SUM
Varied Vegetables,
Other Crops
Raised
By ANNE DAVIS

lue OF crops III lmpeflal val
ley in 1885, a gain of seven
million over the previous year.
Each year, with unfailing regu-
larity. from $4,000 to $4,000 car
loads of produce and livestock
are shipped from Imperial Valley
over the highways and the rail-
roads of the nation. Values range
from s33, ,951 $50 in the depression
year 1884 to much higher figures
of the peak period.
Alfalfa, Melons, lettuce. peas. TO-
matoes, carrots and citrus are the
principle crops with livestock an6
dairying as important industries.
also.
Alfalfa Largest Item
The largest acreage devoted to
any single crop is that to alfalfa
1877 1874 acres being planted to that
crop. In 1888, 11.340 cars of al
falfa hay were shipped, reachine
total value of S1,879,6 sos while
the 323 cars of alfalfa meal shipped
brought an additional value Of
s177650.
Nearly 10000 of acres were plant
cd to lettuce. A total Of 6,356 cars
we're shipped, at a value of S4,-
493 692.
Melon acreage. including canta-
loupes. honeyballs and honeydeWs,
totalled 27944 acres. An addition
al acreage was GAIA planted to
watermelon. making the total mel
on acreage 34.358. From this acre
a2e. 1892 cars we're shipped, their
value being s8.442 $50.
Other CrOps
Peas, spring and fall crops. con-
stitute the next largest acreage.
The 1885 crop was valued at over
a million dollars, S1320,820 A total
of 796 cars was shipped.
The carrot crop was also in the
million dollar class, its value in
935 being s1,115646, with 1876 cars
shipped from 3,455 acres.
Livestock. as we'll as the grains.
exclusive of alfalfa and flax, all
belong in the million dollar brack-
cts.
The value of the beef and dairy
cattle shipments reached S4,565, ,270
and added to this the value Of
sheep, horses. mules, hogs. which
was S976,370, brings the total live
stock value to S5,541 $40. In 1885
there was 1868 head of beef ship
ped, 28,391 of dairy cattle and no.
449 head of sheep. horses, mules
and hogs.
Grains Over Million
Grains, exclusive of alfalfa and
flax, also belong to the million
dollar group. The combined value
of the grains, wheat, barley, milo
maize, and their products, straw
and grain hay. was $1,360, ,439 for
the 1852 cars shipped
Citrus is another important in
dustry close to the million dollar
division and sometimes in that
classification when market condi-
tons are more favorable than they
have been for the past few years.
Grapefruit is by far the largest
part of this industry, 1923 cars be-
ing shipped during 1885 with
value of 1868 $40 value augment
ed by the 41.648 of the 81 cars
of oranges and tangerines shipped,
bringing the total citrus value to
S924,168.
Tomatoes are also 10 be included
in the group which is close to the
million dollar bracket. The value
of last years crop was 1923 ,296 for
the 1924 cars shipped from 2439
acres. So far this spring the mar
ket has been excellent.
Flax Developing
Flax, a new industry, is assum-
ing a prominent place. The value
of the 1895 crop vas placed at
$685., $50 for 298 cars.
Total Forty Millions
The value of other crops, vege-
tables, fruits, poultry swell the to-
tai to the $4O,000000 mark or
above.
With better prices facing farm
products SO far the majority hav-
ing had better seasons. it is an
ticipated that the value of the 1886
produce and livestock will exceed
that of the past year. The exact
acreage devoted to each crop varies
somewhat from year to year with
rotation of crops.
All figures were obtained from
the office Of 3. A. Harrigan, agri-
cultural commissioner.
In the planting of these large
acreages and in the harvesting of
crops the labor of 1000 persons is
involved.
The 45 packing and shipping con-
Germs operating during the melon
and lettuce deal alone have a pay
roll of S2,500,000 exclusive of the
investment in their packing plants
and sheds.
Crops Make Speed
Imperial Valley is the only re-
zion in the nation where a crop
can be planted and harvested with
in 120 days and another crop plant
ed and harvested on the same land
within the year.
Late lettuce is planted in the fall
and harvested within 100 days and
the same land may then be plant
ed TO melons which are harvested
in July, in less than IL months