The Arizona sentinel., 1894-07-28
FRUIT CULTURE.

can nowhere be surpassed, containing as it does all the essential elements of richness and fertility. FRUIT CULTURE.
 Fruit production throughout Arizona is sub | feet of great interest at present, and will no doubt, be the principal industry in Yuma County. The remar kable 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, 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 remunerative character.
 | The Commissioner of Immigration in his report, | published in 886 writes as follows of the rich valleys of the Gila. Colorado and calt rivers.
 "The soil of these valleys is among the richest on the continent It is formed of the detrtus 1 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, I the deposit of this rich vegetable matter has form ed a soil of extreme fertility, Near the streams it | is dark alluvial mold, we'll adapted to small 1 grains and grasses. Farther back there is a rich sandy loam, mellow and porous, and especially 1 favorable for fruit culture. It has been already demonstrated that the productive capacity of these valleys is not surpassed by lands of equal area 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 cultivator is reduced to the minimum. In nearly all of them two crops year can be growth, and vegetation is one month ahead l of California. The farmers plants cottonwood sapling before his door, and within the year he has | a shade tree twenty-five feet high! Alfalfa can be cut six times during the season. and it is an actual fact the grapecuttings 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 May his harvest is ready Roses in bloom, fruit trees are blossoming, and the grain 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  Wheat, corn barley, oats and Ill 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 |, ! fO 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 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 Gila valley.
 "But it is their adaptabilty for fruit culture that assures to these valley lands dense popula- tion and aprosperous future. Almost every var iety known can be raised in their fruitful soils The D apple, pear, plum peach, apricot, quince and nee tarine, are of delicious flavor, and give a gen erous yield. The grape of all varieties is at home
 in these sunny vales. No place in the grape-grow
 ing belt of the Pacific Coast show so prolific
 yield. The quality is all that could be desired
 
 permental, is of fine flavor, delicious bouquet
 and unsurpassed by any native product table beverage. Experiments with the raisin grape 7 have shown that this climate and soil posses every advantage for the production and curing O this staple article of commerce.
 "Besides the fruits already mentioned, the or
 ange lemon lime, olive, fig. pomegranate, anC others of the citrus family, be grown success t fully in the valleys of Southern Arizona orang t trees are now in bearing in the Salt River vale! 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 thu best California.
 = 'In the valleys of the Colorado the Salt and tn Gila Iivers there is for thousands. It IS no too much to say that nowhere within the limits l this broad Union be found more desrabl . l region for the making of home. No laborlou ' clearing of the land is required; it lies almos l ready for the blow. Trees and shrubbery have s
 rapid a growth that within eighteen months tn 1 immigrant can surround his abode with attraction which would require years to maturs in less favore le climates. Fruits rpen and are ready for marke 2, a full month fore the California product. Tn IS bright sunshine makes life luxury, and the pure c. dry atmosphere brings health to all who nhale 1t s, For the establishment of colonies such we hay 8. made of Southern California 0 garden, Arizon Is presents unrivaled opportunities Thousands o