The Arizona sentinel., 1894-10-13

the ella and Colorado 'ivers have for the most
part deep sedmeEtary soil Of brownish, gray
sandy 10 m, resting, in most places, upon a gray
clay subsoil at de 9TH of from zen to twenty feet
below the surface, The clay subsoil forms hard
pan which is mpervious to water. These soils have
been slowly formed by the decomposition Of shales,
sandstoneS, marls. limestones, etc., mixed with
g1nic and vegetable matter, washed down by the
mighty rivers and have been gradually deposited
during the course OF centuries. The fertililng
brownish mud held in the water Of the Colorado
and ella rivers resembles that from the Nile and
its quantity varies from OIL to O.5 per cent,
though the water when even considerably discolor-
ed by mud is good to drink resembling in this res
pect the Missouri river water. a chemical analysis
OF the sediments of the Colorado and of the Nile
exhibits a wonderful similarity in the constituent
parts. of each. That Of the Colorado exhibiting a
triae less potassa, most phosphoric acid and car
bonade of limestone beds through which the Colo
RADIO passes In other respects the sediment of the
Colorado is almost identical with that of the Nile.
1t will be noticed therefore, that when this water is
used for irrigation it is superior rtesian waters
since it is constantly supplying the land with the
richest ferilizing elements The soil of the valleys
Is extremely rich in dedomposed vegetable matter
and uncombincd carbon, readily absorbing the
aerial gases, such especially, oxygen, which
tering the soil, dccomposes the organic matters
that they can be taken up AMI nourish the plants
which may be considered q leading feature in its
fertility. 1t also readily takes W and retains
moisture, while the trmness of its particles affords
every facility for percolation and the activity of
capillary action. In is mechanical composition its
particles are in state of very fine division, which
renders it more productive than cOarser soils 1t
acquires heat readily in the daytime, and the loss
of the heat at night is very gradual so that it re-
mains always warm and is not subject to sudden
changes of heat and cold. Besides its essential
stituents % water, organic vegetable matter,
sand and clay chemical analysis shows that lime,
soda, magnesia, iron, ammonia and available forms
of nitrogen, phosphorc acid and potash enter into
composition in tn proportions best adapted to
add to its fertility, though of course as is always
the case in soil analysis, its composition varies in
different localities and is not always constant
The soil of the uplands, or mesas, is lighter and
more gravelly and in some places of free, loamy,
caicareous character The mesa lands are warm and
generous. They seem especially adapted for the
grape, olive and citrus fruits generally. Their soil
contains more magnesia lime chalk than the
bottom lands 1t never cracks and retains moisture
admirably in summer 1t is of that character which
will produce wine that will keep good for fifty or
a hundred years, and improve annually, not being
liable to sour, exposure to the air, after one
year old, to become turbid and change color in the
bottle glass.
We can safely say that the soil of Yuma County
can nowhere be surpassed containing as it does all
the essential clements of richness and fertility.