The Arizona sentinel., 1894-10-13
FRUIT CULTURE.

| FRUIT CULTURE.
Fruit production throughout Arizona is q 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 imperfect culture has de-
monstrated that 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 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-
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 as follows of the rich
valleys of the ella. Colorado and Calt 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 overiows and change of channel,
the deposit OF this rich vegetable matter has form
ed soil OF Extreme fertility, Near the streams it
| is dark alluvial mold, well adapted to small
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 lar Is 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 cultvator is reduced to the
minimum. In nearly all of them two crops year
can be growth, and vegetation is one month ahead
of California The farmers plants cottonwood
sapling before his door, and within the year he has
a shade tree twenty-five feet high! Alfalfa be
cut six times during the season. and it is an actual
fact the grape-cuttings have produced within eigh
teen months, 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 in bloom, fruit
trees are blos,oming, and the graT 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 AMI semi-tropic
zones can be produced in the valleys of Arizona.
Wheat corn barley, oats and all 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 Guilt
vation of other staples but it 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 adaptabilty for fruit culture
that assures to these valley lands dense pOpUla
ton and aprosperous future. Almost every var
iety known can be raised in their fruitful soils. The
apple, pear plum, peach, apricot, ounce and nee
| tarne, are of delicious flavor, and give gen
| erous yield The grape of all varieties l. at home
in these sunny wales. No place in the grape-grow-
ing belt of the Pacific Coast show prolific a
Weld. The quality is all that could be desired;
and the wine, although its manufacture IS vet ex-
perimental, is of a fine flavor, d9Icious bouquet,
| and unsurpassed by any native product table
| beverage. Experiments with the rasin-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, pomegranate, and
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 in
quality and favor win compare favorably with the
best California.
"In the valleys OF the Colorado, the Salt ard the
ella rivers, there is for thousands 1t is not
TOO much TO say that nowhere within the limits OF
this broad Union be found more desirable
region for the making OF a home No laborous
clearing of the land is required; it lies almost
ready for the pillow. Trees and shrub cry have Sc
rapid growth that within eighteen months tho
immigrant can surround his abode with attraction;
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 all who iThale it
3 For the establishment Of colonies, such We have
}. made of Southern California a arden Arizona
d presents unriyaled opportunities Thousands o.