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History of Utah, 1540-1886 - Brigham Young University

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FRUIT CULTURE. 725<br />

were raised in California and Oregon. 17 With the<br />

exception <strong>of</strong> Indian corn, all the cereals raised in<br />

<strong>Utah</strong> thrive vigorously when under irrigation, fall<br />

wheat requiring only one watering a year. In the<br />

basin <strong>of</strong> Great Salt Lake the fruits <strong>of</strong> the temperate<br />

zone grow to good size, and are <strong>of</strong> excellent flavor,<br />

the crop being remarkably sure. The value <strong>of</strong> orchard<br />

products in 1883, including apples, <strong>of</strong> which there<br />

were at least ninety varieties, pears, quinces, cherries,<br />

peaches, currants, plums, and berries <strong>of</strong> many descriptions,<br />

was estimated at $157,000. The yield' <strong>of</strong> apples<br />

was about 90 bushels to the acre, <strong>of</strong> pears 75, <strong>of</strong><br />

peaches 120, <strong>of</strong> plums 165, and <strong>of</strong> cherries 75. 1H<br />

Pro-<br />

duction was largely in excess <strong>of</strong> the demand, most <strong>of</strong><br />

the surplus being dried for shipment, though for want<br />

<strong>of</strong> a market thousands <strong>of</strong> tons were fed to hogs, or<br />

allowed to rot on the ground. 19<br />

On the Rio Virgen and elsewhere in southern <strong>Utah</strong><br />

below the rim <strong>of</strong> the basin were, in 1883, a few vineyards,<br />

but viticulture was not a pr<strong>of</strong>itable industry,<br />

as both grapes and wine were slow <strong>of</strong> sale, the latter<br />

17 See, for list <strong>of</strong> prizes awarded in 1S79, Deseret News, Oct. 22, 1879; for<br />

report <strong>of</strong> directors in I860, Id., Oct. 17, 1860; for exhibition in that year, Sac.<br />

Union, Oct. 20, 1860; for condition, operations, and financial exhibits, <strong>Utah</strong><br />

Jour. Legist., 1S63-4, pp. 59-60; 1864-5, 79-81; 1865-6, 82-4, 123; 1S70, 177<br />

-8; 1876, 133-4; for rules and regulations, Deseret Agr. and Man. Soc.— List<br />

<strong>of</strong> Premiums; S. L. Dy Herald, July 19, Aug. 9, 1S79; for description <strong>of</strong> last<br />

fair, 8. L. Wldy Herald, Oct. 6, 1881; for agricultural fair held at Provo in<br />

1870, Deseret News, Oct. 12, 1870; for <strong>Utah</strong> co. fair in 1800, Id., Oct. 3, 1S00;<br />

for fairs at various settlements and prizes awarded, Id., Oct. 8, 1862; for complete<br />

list <strong>of</strong> agricultural societies, Id. Aug. 21, 1872. In 1865 lands and funds<br />

were appropriated for an agricultui'al college. See <strong>Utah</strong> Jour. Legist., 1865-6,<br />

p. 40; <strong>Utah</strong> Acts Legist., 1865, p. 88.<br />

18 <strong>Utah</strong> Gazetteer, 1884, p. 46. These figures are for 1875. Of late years<br />

apples, peaches, vegetables, and grain have been infected with worms, and the<br />

trees with noxious insects, four or five large worms being sometimes foifnd in<br />

a single ear <strong>of</strong> corn. Jennings' Mat. Progr. <strong>of</strong> <strong>Utah</strong>, MS., 7; Ilollister's lies,<br />

and Attract, <strong>of</strong> <strong>Utah</strong> (1S82), 18.<br />

19 See, for review <strong>of</strong> fruit culture in <strong>Utah</strong>, Deseret News, March 20, 1861;<br />

for tables showing area under fruit, product, yield per acre, and sketch <strong>of</strong><br />

fruit-growing interest for 1S75-9, S. L. C. Tribune, Apr. 2, 1879; for other<br />

statistics and reports on horticulture, Deseret News, Dec. 31, 1856; <strong>Utah</strong> Jour.<br />

Legist., 1866-7, pp. 159-62; 1808, 163-8. Among the leading men engaged<br />

in the wholesale fruit business may be mentioned H. L. Griffin, who commenced<br />

operations in 1881 and met with fair success. Mr Griffin, a Pennsylvanian<br />

by birth, came to <strong>Utah</strong> in 1S79, having previously resided for many<br />

years in Kansas, to which state he removed after his father was crippled in<br />

the war <strong>of</strong> the rebellion. GriJ/ii/s Fruit Cult., MS.

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