The Arizona sentinel., 1896-04-11
FRUIT CULTURE.

| Fruit production throughout Arizona is Q sub 1 ject great interest at present, and will no doubt, be the principal industry in Yuma County. The remarkable suits that have sprung from i very superficial and i'm cricct culture has de- monstrated tha' the soil and climate of Yuma County are peculiarly adapted for this brauch Of agricultural entcrp is. The development of these 1 resources is of She utmost importance and is at tractiug carefnl attention. Experiments have been made, with c1re and facts in regard Co the culture Of different kinds of fruits have been collected which cannot fail to convince, even tbe most>kept- ical the wonderful superiority of Yuma County over 'outhcrn CaljforAi2 in fruit growing, and which must lead to 8 large and varied production, of the most rcmuncratiye character.
 Tine Co missioner of Immigration in his roport, published in 8S3, writes as follows Of the rich valley, of the Cila Colorado and calt rivers.
 The soil of these valleys is among the richest on the continent. It is formed of the dctr.tus which the streams for ages have brought down from their noun ain homes in their j9urnevto the sea. By constar overiows and change of ch,nnel, the depo it of his rich vegetable matter has form el soil of xtralna fer5Iity, Ho9r tl,o il is da-,i alluvial mold, well adapted to small grains and grasses. Farther back there is a Ii h sandy loam mellow ani poroas and especially favor .ble for fsUt culture. l.. has been already demon trleI that the produ tive pacity Of ,hese valleys is not surpassel by Ian Is Of equal aroain any part of the United ates. So rapid and prolific
 is the growth of the fruit, cereals and vegetables that le labor Of the cu,tivasor is re ucel to the minimum. In uearly all of them two crops q year can be growth, and vegetation is one month ahead of Cllifo-nia. The farmers plln5s a cottonwood spIng before his door, and within the ye7r he has sha!e tree twenty-five feet hi 'h, Alfalfa can be cut x tines IfiIg 5is se1s)l, ani iS is an actual fl tha grspe cuttings have rrollce3 wit in cigh teen mo ths What State or T rriFory can make such e showing? The eli ate, i mUst be rcmc'n- barcI, i; nearly parpesali sum.ncr. Suow never fllls iu these southern valleys. The farmer gius to plant in November, anI by the mi Idle of ay his harvest is r-aIy. Roses are ia bloom, fruit trees are bl3s oming, and the grair fields gre sea O. green, when the fields of the Eastern farmers are covered with snow anlicc
 Every variety grains grasses, frnits aad voge tables grown il the temperate ali saUii -trop.e zones can ba rrodnced in the y'Heys of hrizona. Wheat, corn harley. oa-s and ,ll the s"la1 grains give yield of from tvcn' y-tvs to fifty bushels to the acre. Msa!ia. clover, timothy, Berllu Ia anI all she cultivated grasses grow luxuri an.ly, the former giving from ei.h5 to ten tons to the ecre each year, Every y3ria.y Of vegetable raised iu the C4iseI Sta-e, c.n be grown in Ari.ona, and nowhere are they found Of bet quality.
 ''Bes,dos the products mentioned, these s-nli- tropical val cys produce cotton, sUg7reane, to- bacco, hemp and rice With ;hc exception of the sgar-2ane bat little attention is paid to the cuIt vation O. other staples: but i has been denons5rat ed that the soil and climate are specially adapted to their succcssf growth. Cotton grow ng is no experiment. in Arizona, for it is record that when the Europeans first pc ictrated this rc:;ioG they found tAc rima Indians wearing fabrics made of cotton grown in the Ciia valley.
 ''But it is their ala2tahillty for fruit culture that assures to these valley lands dense popula- tion and apros porous future. Almost every var iety known cln be raised in their fruitful soils. ?e apple, pear, plum, bench, apricot, qaincc and neo- tlrrc, gre of daa;oUs favor, and give gen cIoIs yield Tho gr,pe Of all varieties at home in Jho:- sunny wales. No place in the grape-@r'w- ing aols Of the l'aci, Coast car show proiiee a yield Tbc quslity i. al that couIi be dcsiTed and the wine, although it9 manufacture IS vet ex perisneufs1, is of a fine flavor, de'ic.our bouquet and uasurps+sei by any native product table beverage Exp p,rimonts with the rl;si1 grape have shown that this climate anI soil posses every advantage for the pro uc,ion end curing ci .Ils str,,le article of commerce.
 "Basijes rhe frliss already mentioned tht CT a"ge lemon, lime, olive, Gy. pomcgrcnate, ana others of sho citrus funil}, can be grown sUcccs, fully in the val e5s of sopt5crn Arizona. Grange trees are now in bearing in the sa'5 Gi:er valley and at Yuma; while t., bananas isaso being cul
 ivated at the later pllcc. The Arizona orange in quality and layor will compare lavorlbly wi,h the best California.
 'sln inc valleys of the Colorado, the Salt and the Gila iivers there is room for tay auds. l. is nos
 teo much to say that nowhere within the limits oi this broad Union can be fOunI more d..iI- bic region for the making of Q home. No laborions clearing of the land is required; it lies almost ready for the llov. Trees and .hrub cry have so rapid growth that within eighteen montss thc immigrant can surround his abode wi-h attractions vaich woulI require years to matur in less ia1orea climates. Fruits ripen and are ready for mari.et f,,u month b fore the California product The bri,it sunshine makes life luxury, and the pure, Iry atmosphere brings health to all who h.haie it. For the establishment of colonies, such as we have made of Southern California arden, Arizona presents uurivaled opportsities Thous0nds of