The Arizona sentinel., 1895-05-11

the Iila and Colorado Iivefs have foI the Rso7; part a ieca seiiaeutdrr soil of brOwnish, gray sandy 10 m, resting, in most lls3cs, upon gray els, suhsail at depth o frJr- fen to twenty feet below the suriaco, T.c clay subsoil torms hard psn 7hi.h is inper,ious 10 water. These soils have been slowly formed Icy the decomposition of shales sandstoIes, lnarl-. limostones, etc. mixed with or g1nic and vegetable matter, washed down by tho ! mighty rivers and have been gradually deposited during the course ol centuries. The fertilizing brownsh mud held in the water of the Colorado and Gila rivers resembles that from the Nile, and ifs quantity varies from O.I to O.5 per cent, though the water aAc2 even considerably discolor- ei by mud is good to drink resembling in this res pect the Missouri river water. chemical analysis of the sediments of the Colorado and of the Nile exhibits a wonderful similarity in the constituent parts Of each. That Of tl,e Colorado exhibiting 6 trihe less potassa, most phosphoric acid and car bonade of limestone beds through which the Colo rado pass G. In other respects the sediment of the Colorado is almost identical with that of the Nile It M be noticed therefore, that when this water is used for irrigation it ;s superior to artesian waters since it is constantly supplying the land with the richestfertilzinS elements. The soil of the valleys is extremely rich in deaomposed vegetable matter and unconbined carbon, readily absorbing the aerial gases. such especially, as oxygen, which en tering the soil dccompOscs the organic matters so that they can be taken up and nourish the plants which may be considered leading featur2 in its fertility It also readily takes up and retains moisture while the frmness of its particles affords every facility for percolation and the activity ot capillary action In It's mechanical composition its particles in state of very fine division, which renders it more productive than coarser soils Il acquiries heat readily in the daytime, and the loss of the heat at night is very gradual, so that it re mairs always warm and is not subject to sudden changes of heat and cold. Besides its essential stituents of water, organic vegetable matter sand and clay, chemical analysis shows that lime soda magnesia, iron, ammonia and available forms of nitrogen, phosphoric acid and potash enter into composition in tha proportions best adapted to add to its fertility though, Of course as is always the case in soil analysis, its composition varies r different localities and is not always constant.
 The soil of the upands, or mesas, is lighter and more grayolly and in some places of free, loanyr 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 is of that character which will produce wine that will keep good for fifty ol hundred years, and improve annually, not being
 liable to sour, exposure to the air, after one year old to become turbid and change color in the bottle glass.
 We safely say that the soil of Yuma County can nowhere be surpassed containing as it does 2ll the essential elements of richness and fertility.