The Arizona sentinel., 1896-09-19
FRUIT CULTURE.

Fruit production thr6ughout Arizona is a sub 1 ject great interest at present, and will no doubt, be the principal industry in Yuma County. 1 The remarkable results that have sprung from very superficial and imperfect culture has de monstratsd that the soil and climate of Yuma County are peculiarly adapted for this lranch of agricultural enterprise. 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 sSept ical, ofthe wonderful superiority of Yuma County over Southern California in fruit growing, and which must lead to large ond yari5l production, Of the most rernunerative character.
 The Commissioner of Immigration in his report, published in sS6, writes as follows of the rich valleys of the Gila, Colorado and Calt 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 overhows and change Of channel, the deposit of this rich vegetable matter has form ed soil of ,xtreme fertility, Near the streams ii is a dark alluviaI 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
 the growth of the fruits, cereals and vegetables that the labor of 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 plants @ cottonwood sapng before his door, and within the year he has shade tree twenty-five feet high, Alfalfa be cut six times during the season, and it is an actual fact the grape-cuttngs have pyoduced within eigh- teen moDthsl What State or Territory can make such showing? The climate, it must be remem- bered, is nearly perpetual summeE> Snow never falls ;u tag:e southern valleys. The farmer begins to plant iH november, and oy the middle of May his harvest is ready. Roses are in bloom, fruit trees are blossoming, and the grain fields are 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 all the small grains give a yield of from twenty-five to fifty bushels to the acre. Alfalfa, clover, timothy, Bermuda and all the cultivated grasses grow luxuriantly, 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, sugarcane, to- bacco, hemp and rice. With the exception of the sugar-cane but little attention is paid to the cuIt 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 Giia valley
 'sBut it is their adaptabihty for fruit culture that assures to these valley lands dense popula- tion and aprosperous future. Almost every var iety known be raised in their fruitful soils Tine apple pear, plum, peach, apricot, quince and nee tarine are of delicious flavor, and give gen erous yield. The grape Of all varieties isa home in these sunny wales. No place in the grape-grow ing belt of the Pacific Coast can show SC prolific yield. The quality is all that could be desired; and the wine, although its manufacture is yet ex- peri1aental, is of D fine flavor, delicious bouquet and unsurpassed by any native product table beverage. Experiments with the r2isin- grape have shown that this climate and soil possess every advantage for the production and curing of this staple article of commerce.
 Besides the fruits already mentioned, the or ange, lemon, lime, olive, fig ponlegranate, and others of the citrus family, can be grown snccess- fully in the valleys o1 Southern Arizona Orange trees are now in bearing in the Salt River railey and at Yuma; while the bananas is also being cul- tivated at the latter place. The Arizona orange in quality and flavor will compare iayorably with the best California.
 ''In the valleys of the Colorado the Salt and the Gia rivers, there is for thousands. It is not t~e much +o eav thas ovhera within tho limits oi this broed Unioo can he found a more desirable region for the making Of home. No laborious clearing of the land is required; if lies almost ready for the plow Trees and shrubbery have so rapid a growth that within eighteen months the immigrant can surround bis abode with attractions
 hcs would require years to mature iu less favored climates. Fruits ripen and are ready for market a full month fore tho California product The bright sunshine makes life luxury, and the pure, dry atmosphere brings health to all who irhale It. For the establishment of colonies, such as we have n..do of Southern California arden, Arizona 1 presents uurivaled oonortyz'ities Thousands Of