The Arizona sentinel., 1886-11-13

The cultivation of the semi-tropic i fruits has not yet been gone into on an exteIsive scale; but during the present year thousands of young trees have been set out in the Salt river valley. The orange tree produces in Arizona after five years, while in near ly all other countries 1t does not bear before A5Ven years.
 Thus it will be seen that the arabic lands of Arizona are capable of yield ing a great variety of products, rang ing from the grains and grasses of the most northern attitudes to the choicest fruits of the tropics.
 At present not more than 100000 acres are under cultivation in the Territory, or about twenty per cent of the entire arable area. Of this acreage the largest proportion is devoted to grains and forage plants; but as the special advantages of the country for fruit culture are becoming known, farmers are devoting more attention to that branch of industry; and at no distant day these valleys will be one immense vineyard and orchard.
 In considering Arizona as farming country, the reader should not forget that everything is grown in the Terri tory by aid of irrigation. Except in few elevated valleys in the northern part, the rainfall is not sufficient for the raising of crop. The artificial application of water to the soil is there fore anecesslty. In all of the farming valleys canals have been constructed to convey water from the rivers to the lands to be irrigated. This method of cultivation will be now to thenorthern farmer, but the system has many ad- vantages, and insures crop the dryest season. In nearly all semi-tlopic re- gions this method of tillage prevails, and it is a noteworthy fact that the richest and most productive lands on the globe are those where irrigation is 
 practiced witness the valley of the Nile, the plain of Lombardy and the fertile fields of Andalusia.
 As scarcely anything can be grown in Arizona except by irrigation, it fol- lows that the area which can ultimate ly be reclaimed depends upon the water supply and the facilities for carrying it upon the land. Of the entire arabic area in the valleys of the Salt, the Gila and the Colorado, it is believed that 800, 900 acres will yet be made produc- tive. The evidence is clear that the race who once occupied these valleys reclaimed every rod of available land, and certainly their modem successors should be able to do as much. Under the head of "Irrigation," in another part of this publication, this method of cultivation will be found treated more fully.
 In the valleys of the Colorado, the Salt and the Gila rivers, there is room for thousands. It is not too much to say that nowhere within the limits of this broad Union can be found a more desirable region for the making of a home. No laborious clearing of the land is required, it lies almost ready for the blow. Trees and shrubbery have so rapid growth that within Is months the immigrant can surround his abode with attractions which would require years to mature in less favored climates. Fruits ripen and are ready for market a full month before the California product. The bright sum- shine makes life luxury, and the pure dry atmosphere brings health to all who inhale it. For the establishment of colonies, such as have been made of Southern California garden, Arizona presents unrivaled opportunities. Thousands of acres now worthless, can be made productive by the con struction of irrigating ditches, and there is no investment which assures larger or more permanent returns.
 Besides the raising of grain, the fat tening of cattle and hogs, the growing of fruits and grasses, there are several other industries which have been gone into in small way, and with the most fattering results. Dairying, bee-keep- ing, vegetable gardening, the cultiVa- tion of small fruits, and the raising of poultry, will be found profitable ven. lures in the valleys of Arizona. In fact, for the industrious settler, there Al Wi III 1o