AGRICULTURAL. OBSERVATIONS ON TRUCKEE-CARSON PROJECT. 17 

 WONDERBERKIES AND UAKDEN HUCKLEBERRIES. 



The fruit of the Avonderberry is about the nize of the bhieberry. It 

 is quite agreeable to eat raw, and it makes good jams and pies. On 

 account of its small size the fruit is slow to gather. The garden 

 huckleberry is larger than the wonderberry, but is thicker skinned^ 

 requires more cooking, and does not have a pleasant taste when eaten 

 raw. The pies and jams made from these two kinds of berries have a 

 very similar taste. While these two fruits are far from perfection, 

 they seem to be popular, at least in this section, and deserve a place 

 in the family garden until more desirable fruits can be grown. 



OTHER VEGETABLES. 



Varieties of peppers grow well on some of the soils about Fallon, 

 but on some of the newly worked desert soil they do not produce sat- 

 isfactorily. 



Potatoes grow best following alfalfa. To get the best results very 

 careful irrigation must be given, so that the crop may make continu- 

 ous growth without check until it approaches maturity, when no more 

 water should be given, othenvise a second growth will result. Good 

 varieties to grow are the Burbank, Peachblow, and Early Ohio. 



FRUIT GROWING. 



The following notes are the results of observations made during 

 the autumn seasons of 1909 and 1910 while inspecting the orchards 

 located on the older ranches in the project. 



The first settlers along the Carson River made some fruit planta- 

 tions at an early date after their settlement in the valley. These 

 plantings were not large, as they were intended for home use. Many 

 trees 2.5 and 30 years old are still to be seen. No extensive plantings 

 are being made at this time, but many of the new settlers are putting 

 out home orchards. 



The old orchards have suffered in various ways. Before the more 

 efficient irrigation system of the Eeclamation Service was installed 

 much damage was caused by drought in the latter part of the season. 

 Overcrowding and general neglect have caused unthrifty trees and 

 poor fruit. In these old apple orchards the trees were usually set 

 IG bv 10 or 20 bv 20 feet, with the result that the branches were soon 

 interlocked and the vigor of the trees lessened. Many of the new 

 settlers are making the same mistake. The right distance for apple 

 trees in this region is about 30 by 30 feet. 



The hiffh-Avater table under some of the orchards seems to be kill- 

 ing out the trees. 



[Cir. 78] 



