The Arizona sentinel., 1888-02-25
ANTELOPE CANAL.

Antelope Valley, in Yuma County, Arizona, is situated on the south side of the Gila river, about thirty five miles east of Yuma City, be- ginning at the Antelope mountain, on the bank of the river and run hing west fifteen miles to old Mis- sion Camp with the Southern Paci- fic railroad running parallel with the Valley from one-half to two miles distant its entire length.
 Tacna station is the objective point for travel or freight that is at present bound for the lower Mohawk or Antelope Valley.
 There are about 18,00O acres in the Antelope Valley proper, of which only about 12,000 acres can be covered by the Antelope Canal, which begins at Antelope noun tain (where bedrock is at the sur face) and runs through fourteen feet cutting and puts the water upon the surface four miles from the head of the canal, where the first irrigating is done.
 The farming experiments were first made in 1883, and the great success which has resulted there from has caused large numbers to seek homes in this delightful region. The greater part of the lands have been taken up under the different land acts of Congress.
 The character of the soil is sandy loam and vegetable mould.
 Good well water is from fifteen to twenty feet below the surface.
 Firewood and fence material are obtained from the cottonwood, willow. mesquite and screw bean in the Valley, with ironwood, palo verde and catsclaw on the mesa, of which there is a limited supply. The various agricultural tests show that barley, corn, wheat and oats do exceedingly we'll, yielding corn 1, 900 pounds, wheat 2, 800, and barley 5000 per acre.
 Three tons of barley hay per acre have been produced with only one irrigation.
 Irish potatoes planted the first of March, gave sixty sacks to the acre. Sweet potatoes, planted in sandy tracts, well watered. produce inn mense crops.
 Beans, of the red and pink variety, planted the first of March, have yielded over three thousand pounds per acre. Onions grow large and heavy, yielding large crops and ripening early. Beets, cabbage and tomatoes do we'll. Water melons, squash and canteloupe are very prolific and perfect. Castor beans yield four crops; the Chufa is found here growing in spon- taneous profusion and evident nativity; the Arabian millet with stood the whole summer without water; figs, apricots and almond trees lived through the hot~summer without attention.
 The valley is suited to almost every variety of productions, and the railroad communication made by the Southern Pacific provides ready outlet for productions which, though requiring rapid transport ation, are most profitable. Grape and citrus fruit culture is demand ing and receiving great attention. All kinds of deciduous fruits growto great perfection in this beautiful val ley. Apricots and peaches mature four weeks earlier than in California and find there a ready market free from competition. They are of
 very thrifty growth and very prolific. Apricot trees begin to bear at two years and at four years give an average return of two hundred pounds. When well matured these trees will yield a profit of from $350O0 to $50000 per acre.
 Apples, pears, quinces, peaches, plums, nectarines, cherries and every variety of fruit indigenous to temperate attitudes grow lux uriantly; while here, also, seems to be the natural home of the citrus and semi-tropical fruits. The oranges of Yuma County are superior in flavor. larger and better formed, than those of Riverside, California. The lemon and lime flourish luxuriantly. The culture of the banana and pineapple has been attended with success; pome- granate, fig, citron, in fact every fruit, plant, grass, grain or vegetable which can be produced in either semi-tropic or temperate zone will thrive in the rich sand and fertile soils of the Gila and Colorado valleys of Yuma County. Alfalfa grows the year round, and two crops of cereals can be raised during the year.
 The soil and climate are peculiarly adapted to the growth and curing of the raisin grape. A vineyard will yield in the third year an average of five tons of grapes to the acre. There are no fogs nor moisture in the air as in Southern California, and raisins can be cured | 41 . o.,.oupd fba l0Sc hxy drxinor