18 AGKICULTUEAL OBSERVATIONS ON TRUCKEE-CAESON PROJECT. 



The codling moth is the most troublesome orchard pest. No re- 

 medial measures have been taken to stay its ravages. Other insects 

 noted are the flat-headed borer, woolly aphis, and red spider. The 

 aphis does not appear to do great damage, but it is present in prac- 

 tically all orchards. Diseases of fruit trees do not appear prevalent. 

 Pear blight has been noted, but it is not general. 



Home orchards have been profitable in the past, and in view of the 

 fact that orchard heaters have proved practical in many places it is 

 not unreasonable to expect that large orchards may be commercially 

 prohtable, especially on the higher lands where there is good natural 

 drainage. There are bench and sloping lands containing thousands 

 of acres which could not be utilized before the opening of the 

 Truckee-Carson project. These lands appear to be less frosty, and 

 can not be troubled by the rise of ground water. 



The mature home orchards that are found on the old ranches have 

 not as a rule had good care, so it is hard to judge how well the va- 

 rious fruits would produce if they were given proper cultivation, 

 pruning, thinning, and frost protection. 



The kinds of fruit now growing on the project, chiefly on the old 

 ranches, are as follows: Apples, pears, peaches, domestica plums, 

 prunes, quinces, apricots, nectarines, cherries, grapes, and such small 

 fruits as currants, gooseberries, and strawberries. Apples and pears 

 are the surest bearers. Specific varieties of fruits can not at this time 



be recommended. 



SUMMARY. 



The Truckee-Carson Irrigation Project, in western Nevada, was 

 one of the first of the new regions to be opened under the reclama- 

 tion act of 1902. Practically all of the land for which water is 

 available has now been taken up, about 35,000 or 40,000 acres being 

 now under cultivation, most of it lying near the town of Fallon. 



Near Fallon the United States Department of AgTiculture oper- 

 ates an experiment farm, where farm tests are being made of the 

 adaptability of various field, fruit, and garden crops, and where 

 methods of reducing the salt content of the soil are being worked out. 



Most of the soil is a light sandy loam, but there are large areas of 

 fertile black soil, both of which types produce abundant crops. 

 There are small, irregular areas of hard, impervious soil difficult to 

 work and usually not producing satisfactory crops. 



In those areas where it is impossible to grow crops on account of 

 the high salt content of the soil, little or no advantage can result 

 from flooding. Deep d it dies should be put through to lower the 

 water table. A comprehensive drainage system for the lower lands 

 has been planned and partly constructed, and this when completed 



[Cir. 78] 



