The Arizona sentinel., 1895-07-06
FRUIT CULTURE.

Fruit production throughout Arizona is a sub | ject of great interest at present, and will no | doubt, be the principal industry in Yuma County. The remark 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- tracting carefnl 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 tbe most skept ical, the wonderful superiority of Yuma County over Southern California in fruit growing, and l which must lead to a large and varied production, of the most rsmunerative character.
 The Commissioner of Immigration in hIs report, published in 1886, 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 detritus which the streams for ages have brought down from their mountain homes in their journey to the sea. By constant oVerdOws and change of channel, the deposit of this rich vegetable matter has form ed soil of extreme fertility, Near the streams it 1 is dark alluvial mold, well adapted to small grains and grasses. Farther back there is rich sandy loam, mellow and porous, and especially 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 fruts cereals and vegetables that the labor of the cutivator is reduced to the l minimum In nearly all of them two crops year can be growth, and vegetation is one month ahead of California The farmers plants @ cottonwood saplng 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 grape-cuttings have produced within eigh teen months. What State or Territory can make such showing? The climate, it must be ramem- 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 blossomng, and the grain fields 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 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 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 cuti vation of other staples but it has been demonstrat ed that the soil and climate specially adapted to their successful growth. Cotton growing is no | experiment ill 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 Gila valley.
 1 "But it is their adsptablty for fruit culture that to these valley lands a dense popula- tion and aprosperous future. Almost every var iety known be raised in their fruitful sols The apple, pear, plum, peach, apricot quince and tarine, are of delicious flavor, and give gen erous yield. The grape of all varieties is at home in these sunny vaes 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 it's manufacture is yet ex- perimental, is of fine flavor, delicious bouquet, and unsurpassed by any native product as a table beverage Experiments with the raisin-grape have shown that this climate and soil possess 1 every advantage for the production and curing of | this staple article of commerce.
 1 ''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 flavor will compare favorably with the
 best California.
 ''In the valleys of the Colorado, the Salt and the CIila rivers, there is for thousands It is not
 too much to say that nowhere within the limits Of l this broad Union can be found more desirable
 region for the making of a home. No laborious | clearing of the land is required; it lies almost l ready for the blow. Trees and shrubbery have so
 rapid growth that within eighteen months the immigrant surround his abode with attractions
 which would require years to maturs in less favored
 climates. Fruits rpen and are ready for market
 a full month before the California product. The bright sunshine makes life luxury, and the pure dry atmosphere brings health to all who nhale it. For the establishment of colonies such as have ] made of Southern California a arden, Arizona
 presents unrivaled opportunities Thousands of