Arizona weekly enterprise., 1890-03-01
What Irrigation has Done For Salt River
 Valley.

The valley of Salt River occupies the central portion of Arizona terri tory; it is bounded by rugged noun tain chains, and is watered by the river mentioned above
 This valley embraces an area of nearly half million acres, only about 75,000 acres of which have yet been reclaimed and under cultivation. The soil has depth of from ten to twenty feet, being an alluvial mould near the river, becoming more sandy as you near the hills. The strip bordering the mountains is of a light sandy character, specially adapted to the cultivation of fruits. The neighbor- ing hills protect this strip from rapid changes of temperature, sheltering from the frosts which fall in the cen tral portion of the valley in January and February, and are so fatal to the production of citrus fruit.
 Resting on the isothermal line of 6S degrees and in the subtropical zone, with phenomenally rich soil, and a bounteous supply of water at com mand for irrigation, there is no gram, fruit or flower of the temperate or semi-tropical climate that cannot be produced in this valley.
 The vine and fig tree flourish here as in their native Arabia-a growth of from thirty to forty feet in one season
 being nothing uncommon for the
 former, and three or four crops in the
 same year Of the latter, often aggre-
 gating twelve hundred pounds to the
 tree.
 Large numbers of orange trees are
 being planted every year-many o
 them are already bearing-the frui
 being of a very superior quality
 Olives and almonds thrive in thi:
 vast garden. Dates bear fruit tht
 seventh year from the seed, ant bananas have been produced, but tht climate is not warm enough to en courage their culture.
 The profit arising from the cultiva , ton of apricots, peaches, nectarines , pears, almonds, prune, etc. reach iron $200 to $500 per acre annually. Strawberries are on the market il January, continuing until May Apri } cots, peaches and figs are plentiful : May. list, and grapes will be ripe b.
 the middle of the same month. 7 Fresh vegetables are common her } throughout the year. The writer ha r eaten watermelons and tomatoes fires - from the vines at picnic dinner her s on Christmas day.
 s All the cereals and grasses that cal e be grown in any country can be grow 8 here at the minimum cost of labol e The second crop of alfalfa for thi t season is already knee high, and tw 8 or three more crops will be gathered 0 The question is often asked: "Wi q not the soil soon be worn out?" N, e not so long as it continues to be wate1
 ed by river that brings with it yearl
 rich deposits from the mountains.
 The Pima Indians have cultivate ,f small sections of this valley, raisin e every summer for three hundred yea e crops of wheat and barley that woul d be very satisfactory in any countr a and this they have done with the rue q implements at their command, ar it thus far there has been no falling c n in quality or quantity per acre. 9 A gentleman of the writer's acquain l. ance came from the state of Ne d York to this valley in January of tn e yearbook up an unbroken farm, ar IS has already harvested heavy crop ,r barley from 120 acres. On anoth re plat of the same farm he has plant, e. 20,000 grape vines, and 2,0O0 orani 10 trees-only two Of the entire numb ct having died-all the rest fourishil ot finely. All this goes to show wh " may be done by any person bringil S, with him energy and intelligence. O Exchange.