The Arizona sentinel., 1896-04-18

oO0tlS UT SliSS.
 We can safely say that the soil of Yuma County
 can nowhere be surpassed, containing as it does all
 the essential elements of richness and fertility. FRUIT CULTURE.
 Fruit production throughout Arizona is a 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 that the soil and climate of Yuma
 County peculiarly adapted for this branch of
 agricultural entcrp~iss. The development of these
 resources is of the utmost importance and is at
 tracting careful 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, tbe most skept ical, ofthe wonderful superiority of Yuma County over Southern California in fruit growing, and which must lead to a large and varied production, of the most remunerative character.
 The Co missioner of Immigration in his report, published in 8S6, writes as follows of the rich valleys of the Gia. Colorado and Calt rivers.
 'The soil of these valleys is among the richest on the continent. 1t is formed of the detritus which the streams for ages have brought down
 from their mountain homes in their journey to the sea. By cOnsta! cvergows and change of channel the depo, of this rich vegetable matter has form ed a soil of ,ytreme fertility, Near the streams it is dark aIluvial mold, well adapted to small grains and grasses. Farther back there is a rich sandy loam, mellow and porous, and especially favorable for fruit culture. It has been already demonstrated that the productive capacity cf these valleys is not surpassed by Ian Is of equal area in any part of the United States So rapid and prolific is the growth of the fruits cereals and vegetables that the labor the cutivator is reduced to the minimum. In nearly all of them two crops a year can be growth, and vegetation is one month ahead of California. The farmers pllnts a cottonwood sapling before his door, and within the year he has shade tree twenty-five feet hinh! Alfalfa can be cut six times during the season. and it is actual fact the grape-cuttings have produced within eigh teen mouths. What State or Territory can 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 uay his harvest is ready. Roses are in bloom, fruit trees are bios omng, and the grar fields are a 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 ani scmitropic be produced in the valleys of Arizona. Wheat, corn barley, oats and all the small grains give yield of from twenty-five to fifty bushels to the acre. Alfalfa, clover, timothy, Bermuda and all the cultivated grasses grow luxurilntlv, the former giving from eight to ten tons to the acre each year, Every variety of vegetable raised in the United States be grown in Arizona, and nowhere are they found of better quality.
 "Besides the products mentioned, these semi tropical valleys produce cotton, sugar-cane, to- bacco, hemp and rice. With the exception of the sugarcane but little attention is paid to the culti vation of other staples but it has been demonstrat ed that the soil and climate are specially adapted to their successful growth. Cotton growing is no experiment in Arizona, for it is 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 adaptabiity for fruit culture that assures to these valley lands dense popua- tion and prosperous 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 at home in these sunny vales No place in the grape grow ing belt of the Pacific Coast can show so prolific a yield. The quality is all that could be desired: and the wine, although it's manufacture IS vet ex perimental is of a fine flavor, delicious bouquet, | and unsurpassed by any native product as a table | 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.
 "Besides the fraits already mentioned the or ange, lemon, lin.,, olive, fig. pomegranate, and | others of the citrus family can be grown success fully in the valleys of Southern Arizona Orange l trees are now in bearing in the Salt River valley and at Yuma; while the bananas is also being cul | tivated at the latter place. The Arizona orange in quality and flavor win compare favorably with the best California.
 'In the valleys of the Colorado, the Salt and the Gia rivers, there is room for thOusands. It is not too much to say that nowhere within the limits Of this broad Union can be found a more desirable | region for the making of home No laborious ! clearing of the land is re9uircd it lies almost i ready for the pio7. Trees and shrub' cry have so rapid growth that within eighteen months the | immie rant surround his abode with attractions | whch would require years to aturs in less favored climates Fruits ripen and are ready for market ] a full month b fore the California product. The l bright sunshine makes life luxury, and the pure, Try atmosphere brings health to all who inhae it. 1 For the establishment of colonies such as we have made of Southern California a arden, Arizona presents uJlrivaled oppor5Oaities Thousands of