368 



General Botany 



Fig. 



U . S. Dept. of Agriculture 



233. Irrigated and unirrigated sugar cane, showing the value of suflScient water in the 



growing of this crop. 



because the supply of irrigation water is certain, these lands have 

 become unusually valuable and produce a great variety of crops. 

 The alfalfa, melons, and fruits of the Rocky Ford district of 

 Colorado ; the wheat of Idaho, Washington, and Oregon ; the 

 fruit orchards of Oregon and Washington; and the millions of 

 acres of oranges, lemons, citrus fruits, grapes, English walnuts, 

 almonds, figs, prunes, peaches, and apricots of southern and cen- 

 tral California are made possible by irrigating systems that use 

 the water from the adjoining mountains. The products of these 

 irrigated lands are one of the principal sources of wealth of these 

 Western states, as well as an important source of food for the 

 country as a whole. 



The southwestern desert region. The border lands of the 

 desert, where they adjoin plateaus and mountain ranges, afford 

 large areas of xerophytic grasses, sagebrush, and chaparral for 

 grazing sheep, goats, and cattle. 



The true desert regions also produce some vegetable products 



