The Arizona sentinel. [volume] (Arizona City [Yuma], Yuma County, A.T. [Ariz.]) 1872-1911, 1894-09-15

admirably in summer 1t Is OF that character which
will produc- a wine that will keep good for fifty or
a hundred years, and improve annually, not being
liable to souri, on exposure to the air, after one
year old, TO become turbid and change color in the
bottle or glass.
We can safely say that the soil of Yuma County
can nowhere be surpassed, containing as it does all
the essential elements of richness and fertility.
FRUIT CULTURE.
Fruit production throughout Arizona is a sub
ject of great interest at present, and VIII no
doubt, be the principal industry in Yuma County
The remarkable results that have sprung from
very superficial and inn erfect culture has de
monstrated thar the soil and climate of Yuma
County peculiarly adapted for this branch of
agricultural entcrp~iss. The development of these
resources is Of the utmost Importance ana 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-
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 remunerative character.
The Commissioner of immigration in his report,
published in $50, writes 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 overhows and change of channel,
the deposit of this rich vegetable matter has form
ed soil of Extreme fertility, Near the streams it
| Jor ada cd oil
grains and grasses Farther back there is a rich
sandy loan, mellow and porous, and especially
/ favorable for fruit culture. 1t has been already
demonstrated that the productive capacity Of these
valleys is not surpassed by lanis 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 a year
! can be growth and vegetation is ons month ahead
! of Cllifomi,. The farmers plants cottonwood
sapling before his door, and within the year he has
a shade tree twenty five feet hrh Alfalfa can be
cut six times during the season. and it is an actual
fact the grapecuttings have produced within eigh-
teen MOI tbs! 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 Way
his harvest is ready. Roses are in bloom, fruit
trees are bios -oming, and the graiI fields 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.
Wheat, corn barley, oats and al the small grains
give yield of from twenty-five to fifty bushels to
| the acre. Alfalfa, clover timothy, Bermuda and
all the cultivated grasses grow luxuriantly, 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-
| bacco, hemp and rice. With the exception of the
sugar-cane but little attention. is paid to the cult
walton of other staples but has been demonstrate
ed that the soil and climate specially adapted
to their successful growth Cotton growing is no
| experiment in Arizona, for it is 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 adaptabihty for fruit culture
that assures to these valley lands 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
| tarine, of delicious flavor, and give gen
erous yield The grape of all varieties j. at home
in these sunny wales. No place in the grape-grow-
ing belt of the Pacific Coast can show so prolific
| yield. The quality is all that could be desired
and the wine, although its manufacture is vet ex-
| perimental, is of fine flavor, 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.
''Besidcs the fruits already mentioned the or
ange, lemon, lime, olive, fig, pomegranate, ant
others of the citrus family, 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 cul
tivated at the latter place The Arizona orange il
quality and flavor will compare favorably with The
best California.
"In the valleys of the Colorado, the Salt and the
ella rivers there is room for thousands. 1t is uo
too much to say that nowhere within the limits o
this broad Union be found more desirable
region for the making of home. No laboriou
clearing OF the land is required; it lies almos
ready for the pillow. Trees and shrubbery have 81
rapid growth that within eighteen months thu
immigrant can surround his abode with attraction
which would require years to mature in less favored
: climates. Fruits rpen and ready for marke
a full month fore the California product. Tit
5 bright sunshine makes life q luxury, and the pure
dry atmosphere brings health to ali who inhale it
For the establishment Of colonies, such we hav
made Of Southern California a arden, Arizon
presents uarivaled opportunities Thousands 0