The Arizona sentinel., 1895-09-14
FRUIT CULTURE.

Fruit production throughout Arizona is q sub
 ject of great interest at present, and Will 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
 tracting 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 tbe most skept
 ical, of the wonderful superiority of Yuma County
 over Southern California in fruit growing, and
 which must lead to Q large and varied production,
 of the most remuneratiye character.
 The Commissioner of Immigration in his report, published in 1886, writes as follows of the rich valleys of the Gia, Colorado and Calt rivers.
 ''The soil of these valleys is among the richest on the continent It is formed Of the do-ritus
 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 a soil of extreme fertility, Near the streams it is dark alIuvial mold, well adaDted to small grains and grasses. Farther back there is a rich sandy oam, 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 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 cultvator 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 sapling before his door, and within the year he has a shade tree twenty-five feet hieh Alfalfa 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 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 blossomng, and the grain fields are 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 cUiti vation of other staples but has been demonstrat ed that the soil and climate 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 Gila valley.
 ''But it is their adaptabiltty for fruit culture that assUres to these valley lands dense popula- tion and aprosperous future. Almost every var iety known can be raised in their fruitful soils. The apple, pear, plum, beach, apricot, quince and nee taTine, are Of delicious flavor, and give gen erous yield The grape Of all varieties is at home in these sunny vales No place in the grape-grow- ing belt of the Pacific Coast can show so prolific yield. The quality is all that could be desired; | and the wine, although its manufacture Is yet eX- perimental is of a fine flavor, delicious bouquet !. and unsurpassed by any native product as Q table i beverage. Experiments with the raisin- grape . have shown that this climate and soil possess every advantage for the production and curing of this staple article of commerce.
 'sBesides the fruits already mentioned, the or lnge, 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. ivated 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 Gila Iivers there is room for thousands. It is not too 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 plow Trees and shrubbery have so .apii growth that within eighteen months the immigrant can surround his abode with attractions which would require years to matur in less favored .;imates Fruits ripen and are ready for market . full month before the California product. The right sunshine makes life luxury, and the pure, ry atmosphere brings health to all who inbale it. Tor the establishment of colonies, such as we have made of Southern California 8 arlen, Arizona rcsents unriralcd opportunities Thousands of