Imperial County CA Archives History - Books .....Fruits Adapted To The Valley 1918 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ca/cafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com February 14, 2006, 5:08 am Book Title: History Of Imperial County California FRUITS ADAPTED TO THE VALLEY Sixteen years of experimentation by individuals have taught many lessons, positive and negative, regarding horticultural possibilities. E. F. Howe, who has been writing of the Valley from its beginning long ago, said that the Mediterranean Sea lies between the Valley and the coastal plain. This is Egypt and that is Italy, he declared, and developments seem to have justified his prediction. The orange and lemon trees do not thrive and do not produce satisfactorily. The grapefruit trees do a little better, but are short-lived, though their product is superb. This is the only citrus fruit that thrives. In the adeciduous class of fruits the olive has made a splendid showing, though plantings are light. In deciduous fruits figs and pears have shown ability to resist climatic and soil conditions and to bear finely. The apricot is a good producer of very early fruit, but the trees are sensitive to the effects of irrigation and must be guardedly handled, many trees being lost. Vinous fruits, including Persian and Spanish varieties of grapes, produce largely and in some seasons bring big returns for table use. The climate is not adapted to raisin-making. Varieties of strawberries lately introduced have become big producers and money-makers. Berries have not thus far made a good record. It probably is in the palmaceous fruits that the big future lies, especially with the date. Importations from Arabia and Morocco of the choicest varieties have started the industry, but the great war has delayed further importations, and propagation proceeds slowly. It will probably be a number of years before the production is standardized, but in the end will come an industry of giant proportions. The cantaloupe melon is probably one of the most profitable crops grown in the Valley, and the acreage is being rapidly increased. There are now over 8000 acres, producing these luscious melons every year, which exceeds the Georgia product by over 2000 acres. The fruit ripens earlier here than in any other region of the United States, and the quality is superior. There were 12,800 acres devoted to this melon in the Valley last year, and the crop went to every corner of the country. Under the California State law none but those of the best quality could be sent out; nothing of an inferior character could be shipped. On a single day in June there were six trainloads of these melons that left Brawley, the great cantaloupe center of the county. Ninety million melons was the estimated product of the Valley last year. In the culture of this fruit systematic and careful selection of seed is the first requisite. From the famous "Rocky Ford" strain a new variety has been developed that is regarded of superior quality not only but of greater vigor and productiveness, being also less liable to fungus attacks. It also has better carrying qualities. Some of these melon experts here claim that a cantaloupe should be picked just before it is entirely ripe, not only to secure its arrival in the distant market in the best condition, but also to insure its perfect flavor. They say that many are picked too green, however, in order* to reach the early market ahead of other sections, which practice is bitterly denounced by the best growers, who are jealous of their reputation, and has resulted in much damage to the industry, because one such carload often ruins the entire shipment. And yet the fact is that the melon output of this Valley is among its most important annual assets. The season of ripening begins late in May and extends until the middle of July. Additional Comments: Extracted from: THE HISTORY OF IMPERIAL COUNTY CALIFORNIA EDITED BY F. C. FARR IN ONE VOLUME ILLUSTRATED Published by ELMS AND FRANKS BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA 1918 File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ca/imperial/history/1918/historyo/fruitsad223nms.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/cafiles/ File size: 4.4 Kb