THIRTY-THIRD BIENNIAL SESSION 5 1 
irrigation" as a factor in fruit growing. 
C. I. Lewis, Oregon. 
The average eastern fruit grower has very little conception of the 
enormous role that irrigation is playing and is bound to play in the develop- 
ment of our American horticulture. The region where irrigation is an im- 
portant factor in fruit production includes all the Rocky Mountain district 
and the Pacific Coast states. It is in these regions where is centralized 
to a very large degree the growing of pears, sweet cherries, English walnuts, 
prunes for drying, vinifera grapes, loganberries, naval oranges, lemons, 
figs, and a large and ever increasing percentage of the peach, green plum, 
and apple crop of this country. Not only has the production of these 
fruits reached enormous proportions but the output in the next ten years 
will increase very materially. 
A wonderful transformation has been taking place throughout the west. 
Valleys which at one time appeared as deserts are now beautiful to look 
upon; splendid homes are dotting these valleys; thousands of acres of 
orchards are growing; ideal small fruit farms are found on every hand. 
One is impressed with the great diversity of crops, and with the large popu- 
lation that can live on a small acreage. Orchards of from 5 to 20 acres are 
very common. One is surprised at the growth of cities in these prosperous 
valleys. All this transformation is the result of the combination of fruit 
growing and irrigation. In this western country fruit is produced under 
three conditions. 
First, by natural rainfall. This is especially true of certain regions in 
the Pacific Northwest west of the Cascade range. 
Second, by supplementary irrigation. That is, the rainfall is supple- 
mented by irrigation and the fruit growers do not depend on irrigation 
alone to grow their fruit. 
Third, there are certain regions where irrigation is absolutely essential. 
The largest proportion of the fruit is grown in those regions where 
the latter systems predominate: — where supplementary irrigation is used, 
and where it is absolutely necessary to irrigate. 
In considering irrigation and its relation to fruit growing, two pictures 
may come to your mind. In fact in the first picture one sees an orchard not 
in a very healthy condition; an accumulation of seepage waters; and the 
production of fruit which is not of the highest quality, — fruit which does 
not ship well, and does not keep well. However, this picture, while often 
painted, is the rare exception; and when it does exist there is always a 
good reason which could generally be easily remedied. 
The second picture we see is of an orchard producing very heavy crops. 
We note that the returns are large, that the young orchards are being 
intercropped with strawberries, vegetables, forage crops, etc.; that many 
people are living on a small acreage, and that general prosperity reigns, 
the fruit produced being of as fine quality as any that is being produced in 
this country today. This is the picture which should be found in every 
irrigated district, and if it is not found it generally means that our horti- 
culturists have some good problems which they should take up immediately. 
