The Arizona sentinel., 1896-11-14
FRUIT CULTURE.

l
 FRUIT CULTURE.
 l Fruit production Throughout Arizona is a sub ;-:t great interest at present, and will no doubt, be the principal industry in Yuma County. 1 The remarkable r.Sults that have sprung from very superficial and inn erfect culture has de- monstrated tha' the soil and climate of Yuma | County aye peculiarly !apted T thi, brsnch of agricultural eatcrp is Tls development of the 'e l ieSources is of Jhe utmo; ;t import nce and is at | racting careful a'ten ion. Exp, rments vc been made with cure. and facts in regard to the cul ' of different kinds of frui have been collected which cannot flil to nv;nce, even the most kept ical, of the wonderful superiority of Yuma County over southern Califoriil in fruit growing, and which must lead to q rye and variel production, of the most remvncrative character.
 The 70 missioner of Immigr ,tion in hi; repor', pu5lsaei in S3j, writes as follows of the rich valley of the Cia. olorado and Gat rivers
 'ihe soil of these alleys is among the rchest on the pntiment It is formed of the detr:tus which the str.am> for ages have brought down 1 from their noun ain homes in their journey to the sea. By consta overlows and change of channel, ! cd a soil of ,xtreme fertility, Near the streams it ! is a dark alluvial mold. well adapted to small J gr in and grasses. Farther back there is ri h sandy joan, mellow ami porous, and especially ! favor lble for fruit culture. It has been already dem Dn trated that the produ tve capacity of these valleys is not surpasSei by Ian Is of equal area in any part of the United S.ates. So rapid and prolific is the growth of the fruits, cereals and vegetables that the labor of the cultvator is re iueel to the | minimum. In nearly all of them two crops year | can be growth, and vegetation is one month ahead | of Californi The flrners plInts a cottonwood sapIing before his door, and within the ysar he has ashade tree twenty five feet hirh! Alfalfa can be cut six times Iring the selso1, ani is is an actual ! ia the grape cuttings have produced within eigh- teen mo ths, What State or Territory can make such shewing9 The clinate, it must be remem- berei, Is nearly perpe uAl summer Snow never fall in these southern valleys. The farmer begims to plant in ovember, and by the mi Idle of ay l his harvest is adv. Roses are in bloom, fruit trees are bios oming, and the grar fields ara sea ] of green, when the fields of the Eastern farmers are covered with snow and ice.
 | Every variety grains grasses, fruits ard vege tables grown in the temperate ani smi tropic ! Wheat corn barley, oats and Ill the small grains give yield of from twenty-five to fifty bushels to the acre. Alfalfa, clover, timothy, Bermu Ia an1 all the cultivated grasses grow xurilntly, ihe former giving from eight to tons to the acre each year, Every vlrety of vegetable raised in the United Sta ,es cln be grown in Arizona, and nowhere are they found of bett quality.
 "Besides the products mentioned, these semi 1 tropical val cys produc. cottoa, suglr-cane, to- | baeco, hemp and rice. With the exception of the sugar-cane but little attenicu is paid to the cult vation of other staples hut i has been demonstrat- ed that the soil and climate are specially adapted to their successf I growth Cotton growing is no experiment in Arizona, for it is on record that when the Europeans first penetrated this region, they found the "ima Iniian' wearing fabrics made of cotton grown in the Gila Hey.
 But it is their alaptabiiity for fruit culture that assures to these valley lands a dense popula- ;iou end .aprosperous future. Almost every var etv known can be raised in their fruitful soils The apple, pear plum. peach, apricot, quin"e and nee tarine, are of delicious flavor, and give gen erous yield. The grape of all varieties 8 home in these sunny wales. No place in the grape-grow- ] ing belt of the Pacif: Coast show prolific a | yield. The quality is all that coul1 be desired and the wine, although its manufacture IS vet ex- perimental, is of fine flavor, delicious bouquet, and unsurpassed by any native product as a table beverage. Experiments with the raisn grape have shown that this climate and soil possess every advantage for the pro 'uction and curing of this staple article of commerce.
 1 'Besidcs ,he friits already mentioned, tho | ange, lemon, linre olive, fig. pomegruate, and others of the citrus family, can be grown success fully in the valleys of Soutbern Arizona. Orange and at Yum; while the bananas is also being cul tivated at the latter place. The Arizona orange in quality and flavor will compare favorAby wi,h the best California.
 "in the valleys of the Colorado, the Salt and the Gila iivers there is for thousands. It is not | teo much to say that nowhere within tie limits of this broad Union can be found more desirable region for tire making of home. No laborious clearing of the land is required, it lies almost ready for the blow. Trees and -hrubl cry have so rapid a growth that within eighteen months the immigrant can surround his abode with attractions which would require years to maturs in less favored climates Fruits ripen and ready for market 1 A full month fore the California product. The l bright sunshine makes life luxury, and the pure, dry atmosphere brings health to all who iI'hale IT, For the establishment of colonies, such as We have made of Southern California arden, Arizona presents u4riy8lsd OpportlQities Thouss4ds os