Arizona weekly citizen., 1889-08-17
PIMA COUNTY.
Facts Gathered by the CITIZEN About Her Present Condition. Rainfall - Irrigation -- Mining - Schools.

That Southern Arizona is unsurpassed in every natural advantage that may be utilized in making it rich, prosperous and thickly settled county, is now ad- mitted as fact by all who have become acquainted with it. While the work of advancement, especially in agriculture, is yet in its infancy, yet sufficient has been accomplished to demonstrate the success to be attained and the possibili- ties to be looked forward to. What has been done in the way of agriculture, So far, has been largely experimental, and in every instance the soil has proved itself marvel in richness; with proper irrigation it needs only to be scratched, and the yield is comparable with that of any other known in this country.
 PIMA COUNTY.
 with Tucson, the foremost city in the Territory as county seat, is perhaps farther advanced in all that is includ- ed in the words civilization and pro gress, than any of its neighbors. Some may be a little ahead in agriculture and fruit culture, but they fall short in ether respects. Here the climate is varied, its broad mesas being surrounded with | snow-capped mountains in winter. and covered with verdure in summer. Fully i thirty inches of rain fall on the noun tains during the year. and the cool south west winds cool their summits and have tendency to make the mesas fruitful to the toiling hand of man.
 The principal resources of Pima county at present, are mining and stock. Irri- gated lands will produce two crops a year of almost everything planted, while in hay from four to six crops are regu- larly and successfully harvested. The blowing season is from November to March for hay and grain: July for corn, wheat. barley, oats and potatoes for win | ter seeding; sorghum, corn and millet for summer planting. Vegetables are cultivated all the year round. A novel sight to an eastern stranger m Tucson during the winter, is the Chinese vege- table wagon. which makes regular trips every day in the year.
 THE AVERAGE HAY CROP
 1 this year was two tons to the acre and | thirty to fifty bushels of wheat and bar lev. Fruit trees blossom in February | and March and the fruit begins to ripen | in May. Grape vines have produced from two to three crops during the sea son, and many small garden vineyards in Tucson yield grapes that for size oi bunch and berry. and richness of flavor | far excel any grapes brought to this market from California. from whence al fruit was received till within the past | two or three years. Tine olive and palm | flourish. and in some instances the cas- tor been has withstood the winter. maii- ing good sized tree.
 The bee produces the finest honey from the mesquite. They begin swarm ing in April. Wild bees abound in great numbers, building their hives in the rocks on the mountain sides and in the heavy timber to be found on the sum mits. Poultry does well and is in good demand. Butter and cheese manufac ture is in its infancy, but Is successful whenever given proper attention. anC the amount of butter and eggs shipped to Tucson Is growing less with the com ing of each succeeding year.
 More attention is given to
 | STOCK RAISING
 now than to any other one industry and low estimate would place the mum Der Of cattle now browsing on the sue culent grasses and mesquite of this coun ty at 150.0O0 head, representing value approximating SI,500,O00. During tn, past three months there has been ovel 15.OO0 two year old steers shipped tC Montana, realizing for their owner. nearly S200,cO0 in cash. besides supply ing the regular demand for beef cattle from California
 The CITIZEN is indebted to NIT. E.. l. Wetm0re for the following interesting tables, showing the rainfall at Tucson and comparative showing of tempera ture and precipitation between the citiel of Los Angeles. Fl Paso, San Diego ana Tucson. Mir Wetmore also kindly fur nished other valuable information useC in this article: