4 
A PRELIMINARY REPORT ON THE 
induced them to plant orchards, regardless of the com¬ 
monly expressed sentiment that fruit could not be grown 
in Colorado. This sentiment was at first general, apply¬ 
ing to the whole State. Gradually its fallacy was shown 
up, by the production of excellent fruit, first in one sec¬ 
tion, then in another, until now it is held only locally. 
One gentleman, writing from the San Luis Valley, informs 
me that the “ croakers,” who asserted that nothing could be 
grown in the valley, have been forced to recede from their 
position by excellent agricultural crops, until they are now 
intrenched behind the statement that “ fruit cannot be 
grown,” and “ this in the face of the fact that a few men 
are growing good fruit.” 
Much credit is due these pioneers in fruit growing for 
their persistence during the experimental stages; with no 
precedents to guide them, they were obliged to learn by 
experience all the steps in fruit growing by irrigation. 
Costly errors in choosing varieties or in methods of treat¬ 
ment were now and then made, but they were not dis¬ 
couraged, and now they have demonstrated that success 
will attend properly directed efforts in fruit growing. 
Those who plant now for the first time can, by taking 
advantage of the experiences of these pioneers, avoid 
their mistakes and may choose varieties and follow methods 
which are reasonably sure of success. 
Climatic conditions vary greatly in different portions 
of our State, these differences being due partly to the 
range of latitude, which is four degrees, partly to differ¬ 
ences in altitudes, which range from 4,000 feet above the 
sea level to way above the possible limits of agricultural 
or fruit crops, and partly to the influences of mountain 
ranges; so that while some portions of the State are 
adapted to the more tender fruits, other portions must be 
limited to the hardier varieties of the hardy fruits. As 
no planting can be surely successful without ‘ irrigation, 
