30 FIELD OPERATIONS OF THE BUREAU OF SOILS, 1903. 



general neglect of this industry, the absence of cold winters, and the 

 eagerness with which eggs and poultry are sought in the market make 

 this an inviting opening. Truck farming is another neglected industry 

 which is capable of profitable development. Large areas of light, 

 warm, early soils occur, which with proper manuring, irrigation, and 

 cultivation could be made to 3neld large returns in early vegetables. 

 It is believed that b} r the use of a cheese-cloth or canvas covering, 

 such as is used in parts of Florida, lettuce, onions, cabbages, tomatoes, 

 radishes, and other vegetables could be placed upon the market nearly 

 the year around. 



A series of important experiments in the culture of the sugar beet 

 has been carried on in this area by the Arizona Agricultural Experi- 

 ment Station. Some of the soils of the area are admirabty adapted 

 to this crop, and good average yields with a fairly high sugar content 

 and percentage of purity are obtained. While the results are less 

 gratifying than in some of the great sugar-beet sections of California 

 and Colorado, they are sufficiently promising to interest capital. This 

 bulky product can not, however, be profitably shipped except for short 

 distances, and the establishment of this industry will depend upon the 

 erection of a factoiy near the source of supply. It is worthy of note, 

 however, that growing sugar beets as a food for fattening sheep and 

 cattle is now of considerable importance in other localities, where 

 feeders are ottering as good prices as the sugar factories. 



In the attempt to discover special crops for this section, a trial of 

 some of the more drought-resistant macaroni wheats should be made. 



In the more remote parts of the valley marketing the crops is 

 laborious and expensive, as farm produce has often to be hauled long 

 distances over rough or sandy roads. The entire area is traversed by 

 the Globe, Gila Valley and Northern Railway, but shipments by rail 

 are very costly, owing to high freight rates. In this respect this por- 

 tion of the Southwest is unfortunate, and improvement in shipping 

 facilities is badly needed. 



The valle} 1, is as a whole thickly settled. The most important towns 

 within the area surveyed are Solomonsville, Safford, Thatcher, and 

 Pima. Local markets are found in all these places for farm and 

 garden produce. A part of this goes to supply the adjacent mining 

 camps and military posts. With the growth of an intensive system of 

 agriculture, improvement in methods of irrigation, cultivation, and 

 drainage, and the recognition of the adaptability of soil and climate to 

 special crops, the Gila Valley is destined to assume great importance 

 in the Territory. The lands of the Salt and Gila river valleys produce 

 practicall} T all the crops grown in Arizona. 



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