TiiK Yuma Mksa . 255 



a crop this year that will average from 6 to 8 boxes per tree for a 

 ten-acre block. Although excellent in quality and a good yielder, 

 this variety does not appear to lend itself quite so well to com- 

 mercial planting from the fact that it comes in later in the season 

 when the California croj) is being placed on the market in great 

 quantity. The Mediterranean Sweet has given good results in the 

 old orchard, and its season being only a little later than the Navel 

 should make it a very satisfactory variety. 



GRAPEFRUIT 



The Marsh Seedless grapefruit, universally considered the 

 leadmg commercial variety, has given a good account of itself on 

 the Mesa, and promises to become a very profitable crop for this 

 district. It is highly enough colored and sufficiently sweet to be 

 placed on the market in November, but as there is no special ad- 

 vantage in seeking out an early market for this fruit, it might be 

 allowed to remain on the tree until in absolutely prime condition, 

 (climate offering no obstacles), at which time it is of most superior 

 quality and commands a fancy price. The latter fact is illustrated 

 by the Los Angeles market report as printed in a February issue 

 of the Los Angeles Times in 1912 as follows : 

 Marsh Seedless grapefruit, local or Southern California, $1.75 to 



$2.25 per box. 

 Marsh Seedless grapefruit. Northern California, $2.25 to $2.75 per 



box. 

 Marsh Seedless grapefruit, Yuma Mesa, $5.00 to $5.50 per box. 



LEMONS 



Both the Eureka and Lisbon varieties of lemon have given 

 splendid yields on the Mesa, and the fruit has all the requisites of 

 a good commercial product, being particularly high in juice con- 

 tent and having a very thin rind. An outstanding feature of this 

 fruit as grown on the Mesa, is its freedom from discoloration, 

 which makes washing unnecessary. It has been noted that the 

 lemon as grown in this locality tends to produce the greater por- 

 tion of its crop in the fall — a time when the market demand is 

 rather low. However, there should be no difficulty in holding the 

 crop in storage thru the winter, as is practiced in many of the 

 older lemon districts, until early summer when it could be mar- 

 keted to advantage. 



