14 Fruit-growing in Arid Regions 



The narrow valleys in the foothills are especially well 

 adapted to fruit-growing, and some of these, where irri- 

 gation is possible, support very prosperous communities. 

 Such locations are especially favorable for growing fruit, 

 not only because of the protection afforded by the hills, 

 but because a breeze invariably blows down the canons 

 at night and prevents many frosts. 



All orchards that are located away from the hills, even 

 a short distance, should be protected on the west at 

 least, and preferably also on the north as well, by a wind- 

 break. 



The question of air drainage is always important, 

 but cold air is not nearly so likely to become " pocketed" 

 here as in the states farther to the east. However, low 

 lands that are not affected by a night breeze should be 

 looked upon with suspicion until they have been tried. 



In the inter-mountain region proper, the fruit lands 

 are more confined to comparatively narrow valleys that 

 are protected by high mountains on all sides and that 

 are also likely to be favored by an evening breeze. This 

 protection, producing warmer and milder and more 

 stable winter weather, as well as less liability to late spring 

 frosts, together with good soil and an abundant water 

 supply, makes an ideal fruit region. But even in the 

 famous peach-growing districts, frosty places are likely 

 to occur. We have in mind two examples that illustrate 

 this point. One famous locality, which has never had 

 an entire failure of the peach crop, and where vinifera 

 grapes are also grown, is located at the mouth of a canon. 

 The night breeze down the canon is almost a complete 

 insurance against late spring frosts, for a distance of 



