HORTICULTURE 



F. J. Crider, a. F. KixNisoN 



The activities of the Department of Horticulture in matters of 

 the Experiment Station have consisted largely in foundational 

 work on projects as outlined in last year's report and in broadening 

 the general scope of work so as to better serve the horticultural 

 interests of the State. It is believed that good progress has been 

 made and that conditions are favorable for greater growth and 

 service. The lines of work pursued fall naturally into three main 

 divisions — Pomology, Olericulture, and Ornamental Gardening. 



POMOLOGY 

 A ten-acre orchard composed of 400 varieties of the leading 

 fruits was started at the Salt River Valley Experiment Station 

 Farm during the past spring and a three-acre orchard at the Uni- 

 versity Farm. Also additional plantings were made at the Yuma 

 Date Orchard and Horticultural Station. These plantings are for 

 the purpose of determining the relative value of varieties and to 

 serve as a basis for experimentation in other phases of orchard 

 culture. The trees have made a remai-kably good growth, and in 

 the case of the fig and jujube have set a few fruits. The older plant- 

 ings at the Yuma Date Orchard and Horticultural Station and at 

 thePrescott and Cochise Stations have reached a stage of growth 

 where they should in a short time give some results, particularly in 

 the matter of variety comparison. It is planned to enlarge the 

 orchards at these stations next year. 



DATES 



The behavior of varieties of dates during the past season was 

 interesting as compared with the previous year in that the weather 

 conditions were entirely different. The season of 1918 was almost 

 ideal for date ripening, which made it possible for every bearing 

 variety to mature a maximum crop, whereas the rainy weather of 

 the past season developed the fact, as has been shown in previous 

 years, that there is a great variation in the adaptability of varieties 

 to moist conditions. At the Tempe Orchard the Rhars variety was 

 almost a total failure due to souring, which was brought about by 

 the wet weather. The Deglet Noor was very badly affected by 

 fungus spots at the Tempe Orchard, but at the Yuma Orchard 

 where the rain was less a reasonably good quality date was pro- 



