CHAPTER XVI 

 FRUIT TREES, OTHER TREES AND SHRUBS 



THE pioneers of irrigation planted practically every 

 known fruit tree in the early years of their possession 

 of the West, and demonstrated that all would grow 

 to maturity and bear excellent fruit. Apples, pears, 

 peaches, quinces, figs, dates, oranges, lemons, nuts, 

 strawberries and all the small fruits, and a host of others, 

 have been shown to thrive under irrigation. The people 

 of the earth are consuming more and more fruit, and a 

 greater demand is being made for fruit of definite color, 

 quality and other desirable properties. The control that 

 irrigation makes possible, together with the favorable 

 climate and soil of the arid region, enables the farmer 

 to produce fruit of the quality demanded by the markets. 

 Fruit-growing is becoming a great irrigation industry, 

 and as time goes on, fruit from the irrigated farms will be 

 sent over the whole earth. 



188. Fruit-growing. Fruit-growing differs in many 

 essentials from the production of other farm crops. First, 

 there is a high initial expense in preparing the land and 

 in purchasing and planting the young trees. Then, only 

 after many years of careful supervision, entailing much 

 labor, is the first crop obtained. Finally, for many years, 

 the trees live and yield harvests, during which the conse- 

 quences of the mistakes made in the beginning are made 

 evident to the farmer. Therefore, from the first, extreme 

 care must be used in fruit-growing. 



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