Arizona citizen. [volume] (Tucson, Pima County, A.T. [i.e. Ariz.]) 1870-1880, 1876-04-15


cared. What the soil was capable o
doing had it been properly cultivated
1 do not know, but this field wa
literally overrun with the large sun
flower and other equally vile weeds
The sight of such crop of weeds ant
corn on the same soil was certainly
indicative of an Astounding fertility
and naturally enough suggested thu
question as to how much heavier eth
er would have been without the other
Potatoes of good quality were pro.
duced in the same soil, and gave al
abundant yield. Watermelons, onions
and smaller vegetables grew luxur-
iantly. Bordering the stream was q
tangled mass of vegetation so dense
that way had to be cut throughit.
That this valley in no distant past
supported q much larger population
than at present is evident from the
abandoned dwellings,, some so old as
to be falling from age. 1t is not I'M
likely that the incesssnt raids of the
Apaches may have been the cause.
The watsr-supply failing may possibly
explain the desertion of the ranches
higher up the valley.
The Sonoits Greek rises and sinks
several times within twelve miles be-
low old Camp Crittenden.
Camp Lowell is situated six miles
north of Tucson, at an elevation of
sbout $500 feet above the ses-level.
A small stream flows by the post, sup
plying water enough for it and also
allowing irrigation of some small
fields. The valley of the Santa Cruz,
in which Tucson is situated, has
along the river q belt of fertile
land, on which the Mexicans raise two
crops annually, by sowing the barley
and wheat in November and cutting
It in May. Corn may be planted in
the same ground in June and matured
in October. 1t is worth noting, as in
dicetive of the character of much of
the soil Of Arizona and New Mexico,
that in some places the Mexicsns and
Indians have for year after year been
using the same soil over and over
again, removing through their crops
the elements of plsnt-life without even
the pretense of returning anything in
and still resping fair crops. |
To sum up, the following statements
are probaly correct concerning those
portions of Arizona and New Mexico
through which we were moving dur
ing the past season: first, that the
soil, particularly that resulting fiom
decomposition of the volcanic and sed-
rocks, possesses the ele-
nents requisite for vegetable growth,
and will produce crops when water
sufficient for irrigation purposes can
oe had; second, that almost all points
to water enough for herds
AN be utilized as grazing-ground
bird, that the forests, though local
zed, contain timber enough for the
wants of these regions for many years;
ourth, that large areas, now sbsn-
Toned for want of water, can be cul-
ivsted by system of tanks which,
Turing the times of plenty, shall store
he surplus water for future use dur
ng the critical growing times of the
rops fifth, that under the conjoined
Influences of agriculture and forest
ulture the excessive waste of water
II SUI raOO u. s-i--s-o~ - A. AoPtd SE'.P-
ration will be lessened, thus procur-
ng from the same rainfall more last
ng benefit; sixth, that the prevailing
eseases are Of less than usual fatal
", and can, in many cases, be alb
olutely prevented or readily cured,
nd that these diseases will diminish
d frequency and severity as the coun-
~ is brought under cultivation.
The immigrant must not anticipate
eeing an immense stretch of country
alternating in beauty be-
ween greenswsrds, heavy forests,
nd abundance of water, like the
smilisr spots of the East. He must
xpect at present to find sterility and
ridity impressing their hard lines on !
very feature of the landscape; but he
lust also remember that Utah, sol
,rge portion of which is now COW
red with farms, with vineyards laden
nth fruit, was only few years ago
lmost as unpromising as either Ari-
ons or New Mexico now is; that it is
till within the memory of man that
rophets of ill-omen predicted that
california, now one of the grsnsries
the Union, could never furnish
our enough for her own use. We
lay fairly expect, under the demands
f our increasing population, that
hese waste places will be redeemed
nd made tributary to our civilization.
.abor, here as elsewhere, will bring
s reward, but acres of waving, ma
lring crops will not come unearned.