GARDENS ON THE PLAINS 33 



localities, the frosts cover a shorter period and are less severe. 

 Winter growth of vegetables is widely feasible and plants of less 

 hardihood than those of the lowlands are usually safe. But the rains 

 cease earlier in the spring and heat and drought make irrigation 

 essential long before it is required below. For summer growth of 

 vegetables, except on small areas moistened by underflow from 

 mountain springs or valley cienegas, irrigation must be provided. 

 These are the regions which are most apt to be condemned as unfit 

 for vegetable growing, and it is upon such lands that most failures 

 and disappointments occur. It is true that local climatic conditions 

 here need most radical modification by art of man, but it is here 

 also that prompt and timely work and adequate irrigation, wind 

 protection and partial shade win their greatest victories. There is 

 really no reason why the energetic, enterprising man should hesitate 

 for a moment about undertaking preparation for his home supply 

 of vegetables. Commercial undertakings in vegetable growing may 

 have to be confined to few plants grown just at the right moment, 

 but even a small water supply with ample will and work will give 

 a full variety for the family table. 



At certain elevations on the mesas and foothills of the interior 

 valley, sheltered by local topography, are practically frostless regions 

 with ample winter rains where winter growth is so fostered that the 

 earliest vegetables as well as the earliest fruits are produced. Some 

 tender vegetables may be ready for the table on the higher location 

 before it is safe to plant the seed on the lower level. And the two 

 situations may be in full sight of each other. It is a fact that in 

 small valleys of the foothills late and early frosts, sharp and destruc- 

 tive, may be more prevalent than on the lowlands of the broad valley 

 below, while on the slopes above them tender plants may be safe. 



Irrigated Desert Valleys. During the last decade a new region 

 with distinctly different characteristics and capacities has become 

 prominent and has achieved notable development. It includes val- 

 leys east of the high mountains in Southern California and com- 

 prises the extreme southeast area of the state, and is largely the 

 ancient flood plain of the Colorado river, whose deep alluvial soils are 

 now irrigated by waters from the river which originally made them. It 

 is known as the Imperial Valley, and has tributaries, like the Coa- 

 chella Valley, etc. It is distinctly the earliest region of the state, 

 being wholly excluded from coast influences and having the advan- 

 tage of vernal heat from its south latitude, which comes so early 



