The Arizona sentinel., 1894-12-29
FRUIT CULTURE.

FRUIT CULTURE.
Fruit production throughout Arizona is a sub
ject of great interest at present, and Will no
doubt, be the principal industry in Yuma County.
The remarkable results that have sprung from
very superficial and imperfect culture has de-
monstrated that the soil and climate of Yuma
County are peculiarly adapted for this branch Of
agricultural enterprise The Development of these
resources is of the utmost Importance and is at
tracing careful attention. Experiments have been
made, with care, and facts in regard to the culture
| OF different kinds Of fruits have been collected
which cannot fail to convince even the most skept-
zeal, ofthe wonderful superiority Of Yuma County
over Southern California in fruit growing, and
which must lead TO a large and varied production,
of the most remuneratiye character.
The Commissioner OF immigration in his report,
published in 1885, writes as follows Of the rich
valleys Of the ella, Colorado and Salt rivers.
THE soil OF these valleys is among the richest
on the continent. 1t is formed of the detritus
which the streams for ages have brought down
from their mountain homes in their journey to the
sea. By constant overlIows and change of channel,
the deposit Of this rich vegetable matter has form,
ed soil of extreme fertility, Near the streams it
| is a dark alluvial mold, well adapted to small
grains aud grasses. Farther back there is a rich
| sandy loan, mellow and porous, and especially
| favorable for fruit culture. It has been already
demonstrated that the productive capacity OF these
valleys is not surpassed by lands of equal in
any part OF the United States SO rapid and prolific
is the growth of the fruits, cereals and vegetables
that the labor of the cutiyator is reduced to the
minimum. In nearly all of them two crops year
! can be growth, and vegetation is month ahead
! of California. The farmers plants cottonwood
sapling before his door, and within the year he has
a shade tree twenty-five feet hirh, Alfalfa can be
cut six times during the season, and it is actual
fact the grape-cuttings have produced within eigh
/ teen months! What State or Territory make
such showing? The climate, it must be remem-
bered, is nearly perpetual summer Snow never
falls in these southern valleys. The farmer begins
to plant in November, and by the middle of May
his harvest is ready. Roses are in bloom, fruit
trees are blos,oming and the grair fields are sea
OF green, when the fields Of the Eastern farmers
are covered with snow and ice.
Every variety Of grains, grasses, fruits and vege
tables grown in the temperate and semi-tropic
zones can be prodnced in the valleys Of Arizona
y
give yield of from twenty-five to fifty bushels 20
the acre. Alfalfa, clover, timothy, Bermuda and
all the cultivated grasses grow luxuriantiy, the
former giving from eight to ten tons to the acre
each year, Every variety of vegetable raised in
the United States can be grown in Arizona, and
nowhere are they found of better quality.
I "Besides the products. mentioned, these semi
! tropical valleys produce cotton, sugar-cane, to-
bacco, hemp and rice. With the exception of the
sugarcane but little attention. is paid to the cult
walton of other staples but it has been demonstrate
ed that the soil and climate are specially adapted
to their successful growth. Cotton growing is no
experiment in Arizona, for it is on record that
when the Europeans first penetrated this region,
they found the Pima Indians wearing fabrics
made OF cotton grown in the ella valley.
''But it is their aIaptabillty for fruit culture
that assures 20 these yaley lands a dense popula-
ton and aprosperous future. Almost every var
iety known be raised in their fruitful soils. The
apple, pear plum, peach, apricot, ounce and nee
I tarine, are OF delicious favor, and give gen
erous yield. The grape of all varieties is at home
in these sunny wales. No place in the grape-grow-
ing belt of the Pacific Coast can show prolific a
yield. The quality is all that could be desired;
and the wine, although its manufacture is yet ex-
pcrimental, is Of fine favor, delicious bouquet
and unsurpassed by any native product as table
beverage. Experiments with The raisin- grape
have shown that this climate and soil possess
every advantage for the production and curing Of
this staple article Of commerce.
"Besides the fruits already mentioned the or
ange, lemon, lime, olive, fig, pomegrauate, and
other. Of the citrus family, can be grown success
fully in the valleys OF Southern Arizona. Orange
trees are now in bearing in the Salt River valley
and at Yuma; while the bananas is also being cuI
tivated At the latter place. The Arizona orange il
quality and flavor viii compare faYorably with the
best California.
SIN the valleys Of the Colorado, 5he Salt and the
ella rivers, there is for thousands. 1t is moi
too much 10 say that nowhere within the limits o.
this broad Union can be found desirable
region for the making of home. No laborious
clearing Of the land is required; it lies almost
ready for the pillow. Trees and shrubbery have st
rapid growth that within eighteen months the
immigrant can surround his abode with attractions
which would require years to mature in less favored
e climates. Fruits ripen and are ready for market
a full month b fore the California product. The
bright sunshine makes life a luxury, and the pure
dry atmosphere brings health to az who iHhale it
For the establishment Of colonies, such as we have
made of Southern California arden, Arizona
| presents Sarvsled sp9ertznitios Thousands o.