6 Fruit-growing in Arid Regions 



writing many of the pioneer shade trees can be seen in 

 different parts of the city. 



"During the year 1856 the Desert Agricultural and 

 Manufacturing Society was organized for promoting the 

 introduction, improvement, and multiplication of every- 

 thing needful in land culture, stock-raising, manufactures, 

 etc., suited to our varied conditions. Fruit-raising formed 

 one of its principal considerations and industries. 



" It has always been our custom to plant fruit and shade 

 trees in the formation of new settlements at the seasonable 

 time of the year. Our cities and towns and homes all 

 over the inter-mountain region, including the neighboring 

 states, Canada and Mexico, are embowered in and sur- 

 rounded with fruit and shade trees, flowers, etc. 



"Bancroft, the historian, states that in 1875 Southern 

 Utah produced 544 acres of grapes, the total yield being 

 about 1700 tons; and that the value of Utah's orchard 

 products in 1883, including apples, of which there 

 were at least 90 varieties, pears, plums, quinces, cherries, 

 peaches, currants, and berries of many descriptions, was 

 estimated at $157,000. The yield of apples was about 

 90 bushels to the acre, of pears 75, of peaches 120, of 

 plums 165, and cherries 75." (Fig. 1.) 



Colorado was probably the next to undertake fruit- 

 growing, although it was not until fifteen years after the 

 settlement at Salt Lake that the first attempt was made. 

 The experience of the Mormons seems not to have reached 

 the world at large, as we find that the first attempts at 

 tree -planting near Denver were generally regarded as 

 being impracticable. Fortunately, Colorado's early hor- 

 ticultural history has been recorded. Mr. Stanger, the 

 author, is a pioneer, and as editor of the Colorado Farmer 

 had much to do in finally impressing the people with the 

 fact that fruit can be grown in the state. The following 



