FRUIT CROPS ON THE YUMA MESA 



FIRST CITRUS PLANTINGS 



Too much credit can not be given the pioneer citrus grower 

 of the Yuma Mesa, Mr. H. W. Blaisdell, who had the foresight to 

 realize something of the possibilities of this district for citrus pro- 

 duction and established here in 1892 an orchard of twenty acre*, 

 and eight years later another orchard of forty acres. Considered 

 in the light of actual returns, it can not be said that the orchards 

 have proven a financial success, but the plantings are of extreme 

 value and importance in that they have furnished sufficient evidence 

 to show that orchards operated under more favorable circum- 

 stances would be profitable. 



Fig. 8. — View in ten-acre block of Valencia oranges in Blaisdell orchard on the 



Yuma Mesa 



A review of the methods employed in the handling of these 

 oichards shows that crops requiring clean cultivation were grown 

 between the rows while the trees were young. In later years the 

 practice generally followed was to allow sour clover, together with 

 a natural growth of weeds and grass, to cover the entire area 

 during summer. This was turned under in the fall or winter. The 

 present appearance of the orchard would indicate that Bermuda 

 grass and sand burrs have been allowed to encroach severely upon 



