THE CONQUEST OF ARID AMERICA 



of the country, and apparently of considerable effect in 

 mitigating the heat. The long autumn, extending fre- 

 quently into December, is the most charming season of 

 the year. The winter is usually brief, but accompanied 

 by considerable snow even in the valleys and a very 

 heavy precipitation in the surrounding mountains. On 

 still nights the thermometer sometimes goes well below 

 zero. The extreme southern portion of the State, loc- 

 ally known as "Dixie," is much milder, indeed verg- 

 ing upon the semi-tropical, and permitting the culture 

 of figs, almonds, and English walnuts. 



The agricultural industry of Utah presents some odd 

 contradictions. It is more diversified, and therefore 

 more completely self-sustaining, than that of any other 

 western State. Farms are smaller and less incumbered 

 with mortgages, and the people may be said to live gen- 

 erally in easier circumstances than the occupants of the 

 soil in any other part of the United States. 



On the other hand, it is not here that we find the best 

 methods of irrigation and cultivation, nor of packing and 

 marketing the crops. The high intelligence and persis- 

 tent effort which placed certain communities in Colorado 

 and California at the head of the list in their respective 

 lines of production are wanting in Utah. The fruit pos- 

 sibilities of the country have been especially neglected 

 until recently, so that newly settled portions of Idaho 

 have easily surpassed Utah localities which had the ad- 

 vantage of more than a generation in time. Of late 

 years there has been a marked improvement, resulting 

 from a State Board of Horticulture, from the influence 

 of the Agricultural College at Logan, and from the in- 

 fusion of a considerable element of new settlers. 



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