The Arizona sentinel., 1896-04-04
FRUIT CULTURE.

Fruit production Throughout Arizona is Q sub
 ject grea5 interest at present, and will no
 doubt be the principal industry in Yuma County.
 The remarkable results that have sprung from
 very superficial and i'm. criect culture has de-
 monstrated that the soil and climate of Yuma County are peculiarly iapted for this branch ot
 agricultural entorp.is. The development of these resources is of the utmost importance and is at
 tractiug carefnl attention. Exp rimcnts have been
 made with c1re and facts ia regard to the culture Of different kinds of fruits have baun collected which cannot fail to convince even tbo uloss kept
 ical, ofthe wonderful superiority of Yuma County over southern California in ilriit growing. and
 which must lead to Q large and varied productions
 of the most remunerative character.
 The Co missioner of Immigration in his report, published in 8S3, writes as follows Of the rich valleys Of the Gila. Colorado and Galt rivers
 Tine soil of these valleys is among the richest
 on the continent. It is formed of the detritus
 whic. the streams for ages have broaga, down
 from their mountain homes in their journey to the
 sea. By coas,ai overlows and change of channel,
 the dep0-it Of this rich vegetable matter has form
 cd 7oiI of fcrrsiity, is a dar, anuYal mold well adapted to small = 5 q ! sandy loam, mellow ani porous and especially favorable for fruit ca,tglc. It hGs been a!coaJy demonstrated that the proIu tive pacity of hcsc valleys is not surpas.el by Ian is of equal area in any part of the United ates So rapid and prolific is the growth of the lruits cerells and vegetables that tae labor os the cutiga5or is rejueei to the minimum. In nearly all ci them tzo crops a year can be growth, and vegetation is one month ahcaJi of Cuf0rni1. The flrners plln5s a cottonwood Sapling before his door, and within the year he has shade tree twenty five feet hi'h, Alfalfa can be cut six ti mes IIrilg the 3lSol ani - is actual fat the grape-cut:iGgs have produced within eigh teen mo: ths, What State or Territory can make such a showing? The climate, it must be realem- bered, i, nearly perpa.u ual summer. Snow never falls in these southern valleys. The farmer begins to plant ill November, and by the mi Idle of "ay his harvest is ready. Roses in bloom, fruit trees are bios omng, and the graiT fields are 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 semi -tropic zones can be produced in the valleys of Arizona. Wheat corn barley, oats and all the small grains give yield of from tven y-ive to fifty bushels to the acre. Alfalfa clover, timothy, Bermuda anl all the cultivated grasses grow luxuriantly, the former giving from i.ht to ten tons to the acre each year, Every variety of vegetable raised iu the United Sease5 can be grova in Ar :0na, and nowhere are they found of bet5 quality.
 ''Besides the products mentioned, these semi tropical valleys produce cotton, sug7r-oane, to- bacco hemp and lice. With the exception of the sugar-came but little attention is paiI to the cultj- vation Of other staples but has been denonstrat- ed that the soil and climate are speedily adapted to their successful growth. Cotton growing is no exparimen, in Arizono, for it is or record that when the Europeans first penetrated this region, they fornd the rina lnian' wearing fabric; made Of cotton grown in the Cila vsney,
 ''But it is their aIa9ta5il.sy for fruit culture tat a3spres to taDso v&ll laads dense popul- ton and aprosperous future. Almost every var cty known be raised n their fri -fuI soils. he apple, pear, plum, pencil, arrco', qaia-o and ne;- .arinc, are of delicious devor, and give gen ,rous yield. The tpc Of aI varieties at home in thes- sunny wales. No place in the grape-gr0w- nG belt of the Pacii Coast ca1 show prolific a i yield. The quality is all that couli be desired ! md thc wine, althoI4 is manufacture IS vet ex | oerimentaI is of 2 fips flavor, delicious bouquet i md unsurpassed by any native product table l leverage Experiments with the raisin grape l lave shown that this climate anI soil posses every advantage for the production and curing Of | his staple article Of commerce.
 "Besdcs the irli;s already mentioned, the or lnga, lemon, Inc, olive, Gg. pomegru.atc, amJ ! others Of the citrus family, can be grown succeSs ully ia the valleys of sout5cln Arizona Grange ! rees are now in bearing in the Salt River valley | md at Yuma; while the bananas isaiSo being cul iyated at the latter place. The hriz3na or snge in laaiisy and flavor vii! compare favor5bly wiJh the pest California.
 "ln the valleys of the Colorado, the Salt and the 5a .i.crs, there i5 room for thousaBds It i3 no. co much to sey that nowhere within the limits ot hi. broad Union can be found more desirable ,esion for the making of @ home. No laborious .eGring Of the land is required. 1t lies almost oady for the piow. Trees and -hrua cry haze so apid @ growth that within eighteen months the immigrant surround iis abode with attractions
 nic would require years 'Gatur. in less favored limatcs. Fruits -ipen and are ready for market
 full month fore the California product The right sunshine makes life luxury, and the pure ry atmosphere brings health to all who ihhale it. or the establishment Of colonies, such as we have lade of Southern California a arden, Arizona resents unriraied opportunities Thousands of