History and Development of the Fruit Industry 11 



The history of fruit-growing in the various other parts 

 of the West from the early sixties is much the same. 

 In most cases it has meant hardship and the expenditure 

 of much time and money. Gradually, orchards became 

 established in a few localities, and as travel increased, the 

 fact that fruit could be grown in the mountain regions 

 became common knowledge. 



Commercial fruit-growing in the arid region is of very 

 recent date; in fact, the first important shipments of fruit 

 to points outside were made by the Fruit Growers' As- 

 sociation of Grand Junction, Colorado, in 1897. Since 

 this time development has been rapid. There are now 

 many thousands of acres planted to orchards, and the 

 available territory is being constantly increased by the 

 construction of new irrigation projects. In response to 

 the unprecedented demand for land, not only are the new 

 lands being developed, but the large ranches are being 

 divided. Thus history repeats itself, as it is well known 

 that irrigated countries are the most densely populated 

 and that they average the smallest farms in the world. 

 This is due largely, if not entirely, to the fact that the water 

 supply being under control, each acre may be made to 

 produce a maximum crop. It has been estimated that 

 one acre of good irrigated land, intelligently cultivated, 

 will produce a far better living for a man and his family 

 than can be purchased by 60 per cent of the average wage 

 earning of the American factory hand. 



Irrigation divides and subdivides lands into small home 

 tracts. The best examples of communities of small 

 farms in the United States are to be seen in various parts 

 of California. Here may be found collections of farms 



