The Arizona sentinel., 1895-12-28
FRUIT CULTURE.


Fruit production throughout Arizona is a sub
ject 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 1886, writes follows of the rich
valleys of the ella, Colorado and Salt rivers.
"Thc soil of these valleys is among the richest
on the continent 1t is formed of the detrtus
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 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 cultvator is reduced to the
minimum. In nearly all of them two crops year
can be growth, and vegetation is 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 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 are in bloom, fruit
trees are blossoming, and the grain fields 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
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 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,
hey found the Pima Indians wearing fabrics
made of cotton grown in the ella valley.
''But it is their adaptabihty for fruit culture
hat assures TO these valley lands a dense popula-
ion and aprosperous future. Almost every var
ETY. known be raised in their fruitful soils. The
pple, pear, plum, peach, apricot, ounce and nee
arine, are of delicious flavor, and give a gen
rous yield. The grape of all varieties is at home
n these sunny wales. No place in the grapegrow
ng belt of the Pacific Coast can show so prolific
ield. The quality is all that could be desired
nd the wine, although its manufacture is vet ex-
eTlInenJal, is OF me HdFOr, delicious bouquet,
nd unsurpassed by any native product as a table
everage. Experiments with the rasin-grape
ave shown that this climate and soil possess
very advantage for the production and curing of {
his staple article of commerce.
"Besdes the fruits already mentioned, the Or I
nge, lemon, lime, olive, fig, pomegranate, and
theirs OF the citrus family, be grown success
lily in the valleys of Southern Arizona. Orange l
,ees now in bearing in the Salt River valley L
nd at Yuma; while the bananas is also being cuI
waited at the latter place. The Arizona orange in
lality and flavor will compare favorabIy with the I
est California.
ain the valleys of the Colorado the Salt and the !
lila rivers, there is for thousands 1t is not
% much to say that nowhere within the limits of
lis broad Union can be found a more desirable ="
gion for the making of a home. No laborious !
caring of the land is required; it lies almost
ady for the pillow. Trees and shrubbery have so IT
pid growth that within eighteen months the 81
migrant can surround his abode with attractions -
iich would require years to maturG in less favored IN
mates. Fruits ripen and are ready for market p,
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