The Arizona sentinel., 1896-10-10
FRUIT CULTURE.

Fruit production throughout Arizona is q sub ioct great interest at present, and will no doubt, be the principal industry in Yuma County. ! The remarkable results that have sprung from very superficial ard imperfect culture has de 1 fnonstrated that the soil and climate of Yuma County are peculiarly adapted for this branch of agricultural enterprise. Tine 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 oi fruits have been collected which cannot fail to convince cVen tbe most skept- ical, the wonderful superiority of Yuma County over Southern California in fruit erowisg, and which must lead to @ large and varied production, Of the most re.hInerative character.
 The Corrmissioner Of Immigration in his report, published in SS5, writes follows of the rich yalie O. Jhe GiIa, Colorado and Salt rivers.
 The soil oi these valleys is among the richest on the continent. It is formed of the detritus which the streams for ages have brought down from their mountain homes in their journey to the sea. By constant overilows and change of channel, the deposit of this rich vegetable matter has form cd soil of ,xtreme fertility, Near the streams it is dark slluYial 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 demonstrat 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 is the growth of the fruits cereals and vegetables that the labor Of the cultivatOr is reduced to the minimum. In nearly all of them two crops B year gan be growth, and vegetation is one month ahead of California. The farmers plants cottonwood sapIng before his door, and within the year he has a shade tree twenty five feet high. Alfalfa can be cut six times during the season, and it is an actual fact the grape-cutings have produced within eigh- teen months 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 iii November, and by the middle Of May lis harvest is ready. Roses are in bloom, fruit trees are blossoming, and the grain fields of green, when the fields of the Eastern farmers are covered with snow and ice.
 Every variety O 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 yield of from twenty-five to fifty bushels to the acre. Alfalfa clover, timothy, Bermuda and all the cultivated grasses grow luxurianty the former giving from eight to ten tons to the acre each year, Every variety of vegetable raised in the United States can 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 sugar-cane but little attention is paid to the cuti 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 on record that when the Europeans first penetrated this region, they found the Pima Indians wearing fabrics made of cotton grown in the Gila valley.
 'But it is their adaptabiIIty for fruit culture that assures to these valley lands dense popula- ton and aprosperous future. Almost every var ety 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 a home in these sunny wales. No place in the grape-grow
 ing belt Of the Pacific Coast show prolific yield, The quality is all that could be desired; and the wine, although its manufacture is yet perimental, is of fine favor, delicious bouquet, and unsurpassed by any native product table beverage. Experiments with the raisin grape have shown that this climate aad soil possess every advantage for tic production and curing Of this staple article of commerce.
 "Besides the fruits already mentioned, the angc, lemon, linra, olive, fig, polnegranate, and others Of the citrus family, can be grown success fully in tbe valleys of Southern Arizona. Orange trees are HOW ill 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 will compare fav vorably with the best California.
 "In the valleys of the Colorado, the Salt and the Gila rivers, there is room for thousands. T. i. not too much to say that nowhere within the limits of this broad Union can be found 9 more desirable rerion for the making oi home. 10 labonous clearing Of the land is required; it lies almost ready for the blow. Trees and sl1ubbery have so rapid 9 growth that within eighteen months the inlni2 can surround his abode wih attractions winch would require years to mat-s in less favored climates Fruits ripen and are ready for market q full month before the California product. The bright sunshine makes liio luxury, and the pure, dry atmosphere brings health to all who inhale II. For the establishment of colonies, such as nave made Of Southern California arden, Arizoi presents unryalcd opportunities Thousands