into bearing here at three years, after which time the yield will probably increase steadily up to twenty-five years.

The great freezes which for two successive seasons have devastated the entire State of Florida seem to demonstrate the fact that there is no citrus belt in this country outside of Arizona and California. During last winter, which was an unusually cold one, not a tree was damaged in the citrus belt of this valley.

There are 1,000 acres now planted to oranges About 50 acres on the south side of Salt River and the balance along the foothills, commencing at a point about 6 miles due north of Phoenix and running east to the east end of Camel Back Mountain. The largest grove in the valley is owned by the Ingleside Company. It lies directly south of Camel Back Mountain and is under the Arizona Canal. This grove is the oldest in the valley, contains about 100 acres, and is planted almost entirely to Washington navel oranges.

The foreman of the Ingleside grove estimates that the yield on the oldest trees will average about 250 boxes per acre.

There is a very fine group of citrus groves about a mile and a half west of the Ingleside grove. This includes Mr. W. J. Murphy's grove of Washington navels and grape fruit, Dr. Hardy's grove of Jaffas and Mediterranean Sweets and Mr. Ward's grove. Mr. Ward, perhaps, cultivates more different varieties of citrus fruits than any other grower in the valley. His orchard includes grape fruit, tangerines, Jaffas, Mediterranean Sweets, and lemons.

The nearest groves to Phoenix are in the suburb of Orangewood, on Central avenue, about 6 miles north of Phoenix. There are at present 10 orchards in this attractive suburb and are planted almost exclusively to Washington navel oranges. Many of these groves are owned by retired business men, who expect to make their orange groves the site of ideal homes. The oldest of these groves belongs to Dr. Mulvane, a prominent physician of Chicago, who plans to make his future home in this valley. All of these groves are in a high state of cultivation and give promise of large returns when the trees come into full bearing.

There is a great future in this valley for the propagation of pomeloes or grape fruit. Grape fruit ripens here very early, and there are some varieties which can be put on the market fully matured at Thanksgiving. At that time last fall grape fruit was selling in New York and Chicago at $8 per box. It needs no expert mathematician to compute profits at these figures. Grape fruit bears regularly and well here, and the varieties so far introduced seem really to improve under the conditions they find in this valley. Some of the growers here are experimenting with a seedless variety, which gives good promise of success.

Lemons have been propagated on a small scale for several years, and do very well. The profits in them, however, are smaller than in oranges and pomeloes, and for that reason they have not been extensively cultivated.

The Salt River Valley enjoys the distinction of being the only place in the United States where dates can be successfully raised. The date palm tree flourishes in southern California, but does not fruit. Only the female or pistillate tree bears, which has to be fertilized from the pollen of the blossom of the male or staminate tree. All the female trees over 6 years of age in the valley bear regularly when pollenized. Several bunches of dates were shipped in 1897 to the horticultural fair in Madison Square Garden. The quality of the dates was highly commented on, and they were one of the unique features of the fair.

In addition to the above named, many other varieties of fruit are grown in the valley, and while excellent in quality, are not so extensively raised as the kinds mentioned. Plums deserve special mention. All of the finer California varieties are grown and do well. The Prunis Simona is a delicious fruit, large, of a golden straw-color, changing to a deep crimson. The Wickson is a little smaller, being about the size of the Kelsey Japan, and is a delicious fruit, either eaten ripe or for canning purposes. The Wickson plum begins to bear at 2 years old, and is in full bearing at four or five years, when the average amounts to over 150 pounds per tree. The white or Smyrna fig of commerce is grown in the valley, but the trees bear irregularly, and there is but little profit in raising them. The black or purple fig bears abundantly and has two or three crops every year. It makes a fine table fruit and a jam par excellence.

Loquates, guavas, Japanese persimmons, and other kinds of what might be termed fancy varieties of fruits have been grown to a limited extent.

ALMOND CULTURE.

It has been demonstrated beyond a doubt that the culture of the almond is destined to be one of the leading industries of this valley. It is well to assert the fact that whoever enters into this line of horticulture and hopes for success must bring to bear upon his work the same keen perception that he applies to any other