Arizona weekly enterprise., 1888-12-15
GOOD WORDS FOR ARIZONA
The Governors Annual Report on the
 Salt River Valley.

In Governor Zulick's report to the Secretary of the Interior for the year 1888, we find the following we'll writ ten reference to our valley.
 "Wherever in Arizona land is re- claimed it Is found to be adapted to fruit culture. No better strawberries. raspberries, or blackberries are to be found than are grown in Yavapai county. The peaches of Yavapai, Graham and Apache counties equal in size those of Delaware The apples excel those of Oregon, and in certain kinds of vegetables, notably celery, cabbage, and potatoes, the yield is larger and the quality unsurpassed. In the nor.hern counties fruit culture has not been followed to any great extent, but sufficient to dem onstrate the adaptability of soil to this industry and its many advantages as a sources of profit even with the present limited markets on account of lack of facilities for transportation.
 In the southern counties fruit cul- ture has passed the experimental oldSCs oiii IS lCOOSiAAECQ do pcIuld- nent source of wealth to Arizona. In the counties of Pima, Pinal, Maricopa and Yuma, fruits ripen from two to four weeks earlier than in California. Early fruit always brings the highest price in both eastern and western markets, and melted by knowledge of this fact, the settlers of Southern Arizona are very generally turning their attention to the culture of early fruits, all varities of which are grown l to perfection. No better oranges, lemons, or Times are grown than in the Gila and Colorado valleys, portions of the counties of Maricopa and Yuma. In the Salt River valley oranges are | grown to perfection, and orange groves in few years will be as common as at Riverside, Cal. Twenty two thousand orange trees were planted this year in the Salt River valley alone.
 The soil and climate of Southern Arizona is especially adapted to the growth of oranges, almonds, quinces, pears, figs, pomegranates, apricots peaches, olives, nectarines, peanuts plums, dates, prunes, pecan nuts, ap- pies, grapes, strawberries, and all other small fruits.
 The orange, olive and date trees are yet too young to give exact dates as tC their bearing properties, but the fruit is perfect in size and flavor, and the I yield as large as Elsewhere from trees of the same age. Dates bear the seventh year planted from the seed which of itself would seem to indicate that in the Gila, Salt River, and Colo rado valleys this luscious fruit is a: much at home as upon the soil of Ara bia.
 Grapes are especially productive and profitable crop, whether exported for table use or coverted into wine ol raisins- In Yuma and Ma.icopa coun ties they ripen several weeks earlie than in California, while the yield il fully as large when there is nothing il the nature of insects to interfere witt the healthful growth of the vines.
 Considerable quantities of wine arc made annually which partake of thu sherry flavor, and it is claimed by ex peIls lilaI "ilH prOpeT care III tnt manufacturing, sherry wine can b' made in this section equal to the bes imported article. Apples grow in grea abundance, but this fruit is not equa in flavor to that of colder climate, o the more northerly counties of tn territory.
 Other fruits, nuts, and berries men toned grow to perfection. In tn Salt River valley, where fruit-grow ing has been increasing for the pas three or four years, there is not
 month in the year when ripe fruit cal not be had.