CHAPTER V 



Agricultural and Horticultural Crops, Plants, Fruits and Trees Which Thrive Generally or in Special 



Localities in the State 



Unless along the banks of some river or stream where cottonwoods grow, the valleys 

 of Nevada in their natural state were destitute of trees, if we except the Yucca or 

 joshua-tree which can be found standing in uncouth shapes on the southern deserts. In 

 the high mountains are indigenous pines and pinon, fir, juniper and cedar, and along the 

 mountain streams grew the quaking-aspen, elder, choke cherry, and a considerable variety 

 of bushes and shrubs. 



Ornamental and Shade Trees. 



Wherever civilization has established itself in the valleys, ornamental, shade and 

 fruit trees have been planted and many varieties grow with extreme thriftiness. Perhaps 

 the quickest growing of these trees for general purposes is the Carolina poplar, and one 

 of the most valuable for shade and ornamental purposes. In five years it attains 

 large proportions, lives to a considerable age, and is profitable to grow as a fuel. The 

 cork-bark and English elm, black walnut, locust, maple, hawthorne, box elder, mulberry, 

 and many other varieties of northern trees do well in all parts of the State, including most 

 of the ornamental evergreens. In southern Nevada may be added the catalpa, palm, 

 olive, and possibly in places certain varieties of the eucalyptus. Some of the glorious 

 trees of from ten to forty years old in the towns and early farming settlements testify to 

 the possibilities of ornamental shade trees in this State. 



FRUIT-GROWING 



Very little attention has as yet been given to fruit culture, save in a few instances. 

 While most of the farmers have an acre or two of orchard, as a rule the trees are not 

 cultivated, alfalfa or other grass grows at will between the trees and little care is given 

 to intelligent pruning. Only in rare instances are any preventive measures taken against 

 frosts, with the result that the crop is uncertain and during the bearing years the trees 

 are too heavily loaded. There are, however, a few well-kept orchards, well located 

 along the hill slopes to escape the frosts, and which bear prolifically. Apples, pears, 

 peaches, plums, prunes, apricots, cherries, quinces, pomegranates, nectarines are grown, 

 and it has ceased to be a question as to whether or not certain favorable sections of the 

 State will not eventually develop into important fruit-growing districts. The frost-pro- 

 tected hill slopes are to be chosen, and the homeseeker looking for an orchard site will 

 find what he is seeking in a number of places and be able to secure the land at low cost. 

 The fruit crop, while limited as yet, is unexcelled both in flavor and in keeping qualities. 

 It is possible that in some portions of Pahrump Valley and on the Virgin River, in 

 extreme southern Nevada, oranges, lemons, and grapefruit may be grown. The danger 

 being from winter-killing is due to the fact that throughout southern Nevada there is apt 

 to be each winter a few nights when the temperature will fall below the frost point and 

 once in several years as low as fifteen degrees Fahrenheit. The improvement in orchard 

 heating in recent years and the rareness of frosts and extreme cold in southern Nevada 

 give promise that such citrus fruits may yet be successfully grown. 



Berries and Small Fruits. 



Blackberries, raspberries, dewberries, loganberries, gooseberries, currants, strawberries 

 and the like grow thriftily in almost every section of the State. 



Cantaloupes and Watermelons. 



Southern Nevada, like Imperial Valley, is a natural home for the cantaloup, casaba, 

 and watermelon, which are grown and shipped by the carloads East from Moapa and 

 Las Vegas. The cantaloupes grown on the Muddy River bottoms and at several other 



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