The Arizona sentinel., 1896-10-31
FRUIT CULTURE.

Fruit production throughout Arizona is sub ject 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 thar the soil and climate of Yuma County peculiarly adapted for this branch of agricultural enterprise. The development of these resources is of the utmost importance and is at tractiug caEefni 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 woaderful superiority of Yuma County over Southern California in fruit growing and which must lead to large and varied production, of the most renuncrative character.
 The Commissioner of Immigration in his report, published in SS6, writes as follows of the rich valleys of the Gila, Colorado and Salt rivers.
 ''The soil of these valleys is among the richest on the continent. It 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 overfoNs and change Of channel, the deposit of this rich vegetable matter has form ed soil of ,xtreme fertility, Near the streams it is a dark alluvial mold, well adapted to small grains and grasses. Farther back there is rich sandy loam 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 fruits cereals and vegetables that the labor of the cultivator is reduced to the minimum. In nearly all of them two crops a year can be growth, and vegetation is month ahead
 I saping before his door, and within the year he has shade tree twenty-five feet hieh! Alfalfa can be cut six times during the season, and it is an actual fact the grape-cutings have produced within eigh- teen moEths 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 grair fields are sea of green, when the fields of the Eastern farmers are covered with snow and ice.
 Every variety 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 Ill the small grains give yield of from twenty-five to fifty bushels to the acre. Alfalfa, clover, timothy, Bermuda anu all the cultivated grasses grow iuxurianty, 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-cana, to- bacco, hemp and rice. With the exception of the sugarcane but little attention is paid to the cuti vaton of other staples; but it has been demOnstrat ed that the soil and climate specially adapted to their successful growth. Cotton-growing is no experiment. in Arizona, for 1t is on record that when the Europeans first penetrated this region, they found the Pima Indians wearing fabrics made of cotton grown in the Cila valley.
 ''But it is their adaptahillty for fruit culture that assures to these valley lands a dense popua ton and aprosperous future. Almost every var iety known can be raised in their fruitful soils. The apple, pear, plum peach, apricot, quince and nee tarine, are of delicious flavor, and give @ gen. erous yield. The grape of all varieties i> home in these sunny vales. No place in the grape-grOw ing belt of the Pacific Coast show so prolific yield. The quality is all that could be desired; and the wine, although it's manufacture is vet perimental is of a fine favor delicious bouquet, and unsurpassed by any native product table 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.
 "Besldes the fruits already mentioned, tho or ange, lemon, lime, olive, fig, pomegranate and others of the citrus family, be grown success fully in the valleys of Southern Arizona. Orange tees are now in bearing in the Salt River valley and a5 Yuma; while the bananas is also being cul- tivated at the latter place. The Arizona orange in quality and flavor will compare fayorably with the best California.
 "'In the valleys of the Colorado the Salt and the Gila livers there is 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 blow. Trees and shrubbery have 50 rapid growth that within eighteen months the immigrant can surround his abode with attractions which would require years to maturs in less favored climates Fruits rpcn and are ready for market a full month b, fore the California product. The bright sunshine makes life luxury, and the pure dry atmosphere brings healthro ali who iithale It. For the establishment of colonies, such we have made Of southern California arden, Arizona presents unriy'lcd opportunities ThoVsaads of