The Arizona sentinel., 1895-06-08

O the Gfla and Colorado rivers have for the most part a deep sedimentary soil Of brownish gray sandy loom, resting, in most places, upon a gray clay subsoil at a depth of from len to twenty feet below the surface, The clay subsoil forms hard pan which is imperyious to water. These soils have been slowly formed by te decomposition of shales, sandstones, marls hmestonos, etc., mixed with or ganic and vegetable matter, washed down by the mighty rivers and have been gradually deposited during the course of centuries. The fertilzing brownish mud held in the water of the Colorado and Gila rivers resembles that from the Nile. and its quantity varies from O.1 to 0.5 per cent, though the water when even considerably discolor- ed by mud is good to drink, resembling in this res pect the Missouri river water. A chemical analysis of the sediments of the Colorado and Of the Nile exhibits Q wonderful similarity in the constituent parts of each. That of the Colorado exhibiting trfe less potassa, most phosphoric acid and car bonade of limestone beds through which the Colo rado pesseS In other respects the sediment of the Colorado is almost identical with that of the Nile It will be noticed therefore, that when this water is used for irrigation it is superior to aresan waters since it is constantly supplying the land with the richest fertilizng elements. The soil of the valleys is extremely rich in dedomposed vegetable matter and unco@bined carbon, readily absorbing the aerial gases such especially, oxygen, which en- tering the soil, dccomposes the organic matters so that they can be taken up and n0uriEh the plants which may De considered a leading feaour3 in It's fertility It also readily takes up and retains moisture, while the rmness of its particles affords every facility for pcrcolation and the activity of capillary action. In its mechanical composition it's particles are in a state of very fine division which renders it more productive than coarser soils It acquries heat readily in the daytime and the loss of the heat at night is very gradual, that it mains always warm and is not subject to sudden changes of heat and cold. Besides its essential con 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 the proportions best adapted to add to it's fertility, though, of course, is alway the case in soil analysis, its composition varies in different localities and is not always constant.
 The soil of the uplandS, or mesas, is lighter and more gravelly and in some places of a 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 is of that character which will produce wine that will keep good for fifty or hundred years, and improve annually, not being liable to sour or on exposure to the air, after year old, to 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 it does all the essential elements of richness and fertility.