The Arizona sentinel., 1894-06-30
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 Yuml County. The remar kable results that have sprung from very superficial and imperfect culture has de- monstrated thar the soil and climate of Yuma County peculiarly adapted for this branch of agricultural entGrpris. The development of these | resources is of the utmost importance and is at tracting 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 tbe most skept ical, of the wonderful superiority of Yuma County over southern California in fruit growing, and which must lead to a large and varied production, | of the most rsmuneratve character.
 The Commissioner of immigration in his report, published in 8s6, writes follows of the rich valleys of the Gila, Colorado and Salt rivers.
 "The soil of these valleys is among the richest on the continent. It is formed of the detr;tus l which the streams for ages have brought down from their mountain homes in their journey to the sea. By constant overAows and change of channel, the depo-it of this rich vegetable matter has form ed soil of extreme fertility, Near the streams it is dark alluvial mold, well adapted to small 1 grains and grasses. Farther back there is rich sandy loam, mellow and porous, and especially 1 favorable for fruit culture It has been already demonstrated that the productive opacity of these valleys is not surpassed by laH1 of equal area in any part of the United States So rapid and prolific is the growth of the fruts cereals and vegetables that the labor of the cultivator is relucel to the minimum. In nearly all of them two crops year can be growth, and vegetation is one month ahead l of lliforni'. The farmers plants cottonwood sapng before his door, and within the year he has a shaIe tree twenty-five feet high! Alfalfa can be cut six times during the setsol, and 1t IS an actual fact the grape cuttings have produced within eigh 1 teen moLths What State or Territory can make such a 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 in bloom, fruit trees are blossomng, 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 produced in the valleys of Arizona. | give yield of from twenty-five to fifty bushels to the acre. Alfalfa, clover, timothy, Bermuda and all the cultivated grasses grow luxurianty 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.
 "Besides the products mentioned, these semi tropical valleys produce cotton, sugar-cane, to- 1 bacco hemp and rice. With the exception of the sugar cane but little attention is paid to the culti vation of other staples but it has been demonstrat ed that the soil and climate specially adapted to their successful growth. Cotton-growng is nc experiment in Arizona, for it is on record that when the Europeans first penetrated this region
 they found the Pima Indians wearing fabric;
 made of cotton grown in the Gila valley.
 ''But it is their adaptabihty for fruit culture that assures to these valley lands dense popula- tien and aprosperous future. Almost every var
 iety known be raised in their fruitful soils Int
 apple, pear, pum peach, apricot, quince and nee , tarne, are of delicious flavor, and give gen erous yield The grape of all varieties i- at home
 in these sunny vales. No place in the grape-grow
 ing belt of the Paciic Coast show so prolific
 yield. The quality is all that could be desired { and the wine although it's manufacture IS vet ex l perimental, is of fine flavor, delicious bouquet
 and unsurpassed by any native product a tabl beverage. Experiments with the raisin-grap 7 have shown that this climate and soil posses
 every advantage for the production and curing O this staple article of commerce.
 s'Besides the fruits already mentioned, tho or
 ange. lemon, lime, olive, fig. pomegranate, an others of the citrus family, can be grown success t fully in the valleys of Southern Arizona. Orang f trees are now in bearing in the Salt River valle o and at Yuma; while the bananas is also being cu
 tivated at the latter place. The Arizona orange " quality and flavor will compare faVorably with tn 10 best California.
 'In the valleys of the Colorado, the Salt and tn is Ga livers there is room for thousands It IS nc m too much to say that nowhere within the hHlits ] this broad Union can be found more desraDl
 region for the making of home. No laborlot A' clearing of the land is required; it lies almo
 ready for the blow. Trees and shrub5ery nave
 rapid growth that within eighteen months U
 immigrant can surround his abode with attractloi which would require years to matur9 in less faVor he climates. Fruits rpen and are ready for marx le, a full month fore the California product. IT