The Arizona sentinel., 1896-04-25

of thek Cfs and Colorado rivers have for the most part deep sedimeatary soil of brownish, gray sandy loam, resting, in most places, upon gray below the surface, The clay subsoil forms a hard pan which is mperYious to water. These soils have been slowly formed by the decomposition of shales, sandstones marls. limestOnes, 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 fertilizing brownish mud held in the wat eIof the Colorado and Gila rivers resembles that from the Nile and its quantity varies from O1 to O.5 per cent, though the water when evemconsiderably discoor- 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 a wonderful similarity in the constituent parts of each. That of the Colorado exhibiting a trihc less potassa, most phosphOric acid and bonade of limestone beds through which the Colo rado pGssHs. In other respects the sediment of the Colorado is almost identical with tbat of the Nile It will be noticed therefore, that when this water is used for irrigation it is superior to artesan waters since it is constantly supplying the land with the rchestfertizing clements. The soil of the valleys
 
 and uaeombined carbon, readily absorbing the aerial gases such especially, as oxygen, which en- tering the soil, decomposes the organic matters so that they can be taken up and nourish the plants which may be considered leading feature in it's fertility. It also readily takes up and retains moisture while the frmness of its particles affords every facility for percolation and the activity o capillary action In tS mechanical composition its particles in state of very fine division which | renders it more productive than coarser soils | acquirics heat readily in the daytime and the los of the heat at night is very gradual that it re mains always warm and is not subject to suddeI 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 form of nitrogen, phosphoric acid and potash enter int composition in the proportions best adapted t add to it's fertility, though, of course, is alway the case in soil analysis, it's composition varies different localities and is not always constant. The soil of the uplands, or mesas, lighter an, more gravey and in some places of lree, loamy calcareous character The mesa lands are warm an generous. They seem especially adapted for tn grape, olive and citrus fruits generally. Their soi contains more magnesia, lime chalk than tn bottom lands. It never cracks and retains moistur admirably in summer. It is of that character whic will produce wine that will keep good for fifty O l hundred years, and improve annually, not bein liable to sour, or exposure to the air, after on year old, to become turbid and change color in tn bottle or glass.
 We can safely say that the soil of Yuma Count can nowhere be surpassed, containing as it does al the essential elements of richness and fertility.