agriculturp: on the yuma reclamation project. 7 



irrigation but much cultivation din-ing the early summer, and later 

 the plants shade the ground so effectively that Bermuda grass may 

 be completely eradicated by a single crop of cotton. Cotton possesses 

 the additional advantage of relatively high value in proportion to 

 transportation cost, besides finding a ready cash market at all times. 

 It is not quickly perishable and may thus be held without risk in 

 case market conditions at harvest are not favorable. 



Wliile alfalfa in rotation with cotton may serve as the basis of a 

 profitable agriculture, particularly if accompanied by one or more 

 of the possible animal industries, it is to be expected that several of 

 the more intensive plant industries, such as orchard fruits, will be 

 developed. 



From present indications it seems probable that certain varieties 

 of pears, such as Bartletts (both early and late). Winter Nelis, and 

 Seckel will do well. 



The date palm thrives well on the Yuma Project, and as soon as an 

 adequate supply of offshoots of good varieties is available this crop 

 should become a very profitable one. Meanwhile it is possible to 

 purchase seeds in large quantity, and a good proportion of the seedling 

 date palms are likely to yield fruit suitable for home consumption 

 and home market. Moreover, the chance of obtaining valuable new 

 varieties among the seedlings is not to be overlooked. 



Another orchard fruit of much promise in the Yuma Valley is the 

 fig. Tliere are two important classes of figs, both of which grow 

 well at Yuma — the Smyrna and the common fig. The latter class 

 includes such varieties as the Brown Turkey, White Adriatic, and 

 Black Mission, which yield fruit without cross-pollination. With 

 proper orchard handling two crops of fruit may be produced every 

 year. The fresh fruits of these varieties find a ready and increasingly 

 large sale, and they may also be dried or preserved before selling. 



The Smyrna fig differs from the common fig in requiring cross- 

 pollination. The fresh fruits are marketed to some extent, but the 

 Smyrna-fig industry is based on the dried fruit. While it remains to 

 be demonstrated whether or not the Yuma Valley is adapted to the 

 production of Smjrrna figs, it seems worth a thorough trial. Figs 

 are well suited to the orchardist operating on a small scale, because 

 the packing operations, whether for the fresh or dried fruit, are 

 relatively simple and inexpensive. The product is also liigh priced, 

 and consequently the transportation charge is proportionately small. 



CONCLUSIONS. 



The fullest agricultural prosperity of the Yuma Reclamation Project 

 requhes the utilization of crops which can be combined in suital)le 

 rotation systems and which yield products that can be shipped long 

 distances to market. 



iCir. 1241 



