The Arizona sentinel., 1895-07-20

O the Ci1a and Colorado ivers have fer the most part a deep soJlmeutary soil of broW1'ish, gray san1v 10 la, resting, in most places, upon a gray clay su@soil at a depth of from ten to twenty feet below the surface, The clay suJsoil forms a hard pan which is imperyious to water These soils have been slowly formed by the decomposition of shales, sandstoaes marls limestoncs, etc., mixed with or gauie and vegetable matter, washed down by the mighty rivers and have been gradually deposited during the course of centuries The fertilizing broauish mud held in the wat o1of the Colorado and Cila rivers resembles that from the Nile and its quanti-y varies from o.1 to o.5 per cent, though the water when even considerably discoor- ei by mud is good to drink, resembling in this res pect tho Missouri, river water. 4 chemical analysis of the sediments of the Colorado and of the Nile exhibits a wonderful similarity in the constituent parts of each Thst of the Colorado exhibiting triae less potassa, most phosphoric acid and car bonado of limestone beds through which the Cclo- yado pass s. h other respects the sediment Of the Colorado isaImost identical with thas Of the Nile. It will be noticed therefore. when this water is used for irrigation it is superior to arJesian waters since it is constantly supplying the land with the richest ferti'iEng elements. The soil of the valleys
 is extremely rich in dodomposed vegetable matter and uncoa.binej carbon, readily absorbing the aerial gases such especially, oxygen, which en- tering the soil dccomposos the organic matters so that they caa be taken up an l n0urish the plants which may Je considered leading feature in ifs fertility It also readily takes up and retains moisture, while the frnness of its particles affords every facility for percolation and the activity Of capillary action. In Is mechanical composition it's particles are in a state of very fine division, which renders it more productive than eoarser soils It acqurics heat readily in the daytime, and the loss of the heat at night is very gradual, that it re- mains always warm and is l'ot subject to sudden changes of heat and cold Besides its essential stitueuts of water organic or vegetable matter, sand and clay, a chemical analysis shows that lime, soda, maguesia, iron, ammonia and available forms of nitrogen phosph9ric acid and potash enter into composition in th. 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 constanty
 The soil of the uplauds, or mesas, lighter and more graveuy and in some places of g free, loamy, calcareous 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 or chalk than the bottom lands It never cracks and retains moisture admirably in summer. It i. of that character which will produce a wine that will keep good for fifty hundred years, and improve annually, net being liable to sour, or on exposure to the air. after year old, become turbid and change color in the bottle or glass
 We can safely say that the soil of Yuma County can nowhere be surpassed, containing as it does all the essential elements Of richness and fertility.