The Arizona sentinel., 1894-12-22
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 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, even the most skept-
ical, ofthe wonderful superiority of Yuma County
over Southern California in fruit growing, and
which must lead to large and varied production,
| of the most remunerative character.
The Commissioner of immigration in his report,
| published in 1885, writes as follows of the rich
valleys of the Gila, 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 overiows and change of channel,
the deposit of this rich vegetable matter has form
ed soil Of Extreme fertility, Near the streams it
is a 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 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
of California. The farmers plants a cottonwood
saping before his door, and within the year he has
shade tree twenty-five feet high! Alfalfa can be
cut six times during the season, and it is actual
fact the grapecuttings have produced within eigh-
teen months! What State or Territory make
such 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 are in bloom, fruit
trees are poisoning, and the grain fields sea
of green, when the fields of the Eastern farmers
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 all the small grains
give yield of from twenty-five to fifty bushels to
| 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
sugarcane but little attention. is paid to the cult
walton 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 ella valley.
''But it is their adaptabillty for fruit culture
that assures to these valley lands dense popua-
ton and Aprosperous future Almost every
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 is at home
in these sunny wales No place in the grape-grow-
ing belt Of the Pacific Coast show so prolific
yield. The quality is all that could be desired
and the wine, although its manufacture is yet ex-
| perimental, is Of fine favor, delicious bouquet
| and unsurpassed by any native product table
beverage. EXPERIMENTS with tho ralsin-grape
have shown that this climate and soil possess
! every advantage for the production and curing of
| this staple article OF commerce.
"Besdes the fruits already mentioned the or
| ange, lemon, lime, olive, fg, pomegranate, and
others OF the citrus family, can be grown success
fully in the valleys o, Southern Arizona. Orange
trees are now in bearing in the Salt River valley
and at Yuma; while the bananas is also being Gull
tvated at the latter place. The Arizona orange in
quality and favor will compare favorably with the
| best California.
"In the valleys OF the Colorado, the Salt and the
ella rivers, there is for thousands. 1t is not
toe much to say that nowhere within the limits Of
this broad Union can be found more desirable
region for the making OF home No laborious
| clearing OF the land is required it lies almost
| ready for the plo'. Trees and shTubbery have 30
| rapid growth that within eighteen moTths the
immigrant can surround his abode with attractions
which would require years to mature in less favored
| climates. Fruits ripcn and are ready for market
full month before the California product. The
bright sunshine makes life luxury. and the pure
dry atmosphere brings health to all who inhale it.
For the establishment of colonies, Euch we have
made OF Southern California arden, Arizona
| presents UEFiyaleI opportunities Thousands Of