'Pi lie ViMA Mi-:s.\ 



259 



ably j;ro\vn here to advantage, but very excellent raisins could also 

 be produced, as the absence of rain during the harvest season 

 affords excellent opportunity for curing the raisin crop. Grapes 

 have already been grown in a small way in this district, sufficiently 

 to demonstrate beyond question that the Mesa land will produce 

 a vigorous growth of vine and heavy yields. See Figure 18. The 

 grape could be interplanted between rows of citrus with good re- 

 sults, but it is believed that it is of sufficient importance to warrant 

 the making of special plantings. 



FIGS 



The Mesa is particulaily adapted to the production of the 

 Smyrna or dried fig of commerce. To produce this fig of the 



Fig. ly. — Three-acie fig orcliard on the Yuma Me.sa 



finest quality, thinnest skin, and richest sugar content requires a 

 warm, dry climate, such as is afforded by this region. Moreover, 

 the climate is such that the little wasp (Blastophaga grossorum) 

 necessary for the pollination of this type of fig could be colonized 

 permanently. Like the grape, the fig can be depended upon abso- 

 lutely to produce a crop every year, and the fact that our importa- 

 tions of Smyrnas are constantly increasing, the annual amount 

 averaging not far from 13,000 tons, is in itself sufficient indication 

 of the possibilities of a great industry under the favorable con- 



