The Arizona sentinel., 1896-09-12
FRUIT CULTURE.


 Fruit production throughout Arizona is q 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 are peculiarly adapted for this branch 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, even tbe most skept ical, of the wonderful superiority of Yuma County over Southern California in fruit growing, and | which must lead to large and varied production, of the most remuneratve character
 1 The Commissioner of Immigration in his report, | published in 1s86 writes as follows of the rich valleys of the Gila, Colorado and Salt riversI ''The soil of 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 overfows and change of channel the deposit of this rich vegetable matter has form ed soil of extreme fertility Near the streams it is a dark alluvial mold, well adapted to small grains and grasses. Farther back there is a rich sandy foam, 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 area 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 cutivator is reduced to the minimum In nearly all of them two crops year
 I,a1,a q 1 of California The farmers plants a cottonwood sapng before his door, and within the year he has Q shade tree twenty-five feet high! Alfalfa can be cut six times during the season, and it is an actual fact the grapecuttings 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 in November, and by the middle of May his harvest is ready. Roses are in bloom, fruit trees are blossomng, and the grain 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 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 tc 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 ir 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, sugarcane, 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 specially adapted to their successful growth. Cotton growing is nc experiment. in Arizona, for it is on record tha when the Europeans first penetrated this region they found the Pima Indians wearing fabrie made of cotton grown in the Gila valley.
 ! But it is their adaptahillty for fruit culture that assures to these valley lands dense popula- ton and aprosperous future Almost every var ietv known can be raised in their fruitful soils. Tn apple. pear. plum peach, apricot quince and nee : tarne, are of delicious flavor, and give gen erous yield The grape of all varieties i. hom in these sunny vales No place in the grape-grow ing belt of the Pacific Coast can show so prolific
 yield. The quality is all that could be desired and the wine, althoughits manufacture is yet ex l perimental, is of a fine flavor, delicious bouquet e and unsurpassed by any native product as Q tabl g beverage Experiments with the raisin-grap y have shown that this climate and soil posses every advantage for the production and curing c this staple article of com.lsl-a.
 'cBesides the fruits already mentioned, the oi '- ange, lemon, lime, olive, fig, pomegranate, an O others of the citrus family, can be grown success t fully in the valleys of Southern Arizona. Orang trees gre now in bearing in the Salt River valle
 and at Yuma; while the bananas is also being GU tivated at the latter place. The Arizona orange t quality and flavor will compare favOrabIy with th is best California
 r.. "In the valleys of the Colorado, the Salt and tn . Gia rivers there is room for thousands. It is nc
 teo much to say that nowhere within the limits II this broad Union can be found more desirabl d region for the making of home. No laboriou # clearing of the land is required; it lies almo
 ready for the pow. Trees and sllrubbery have $
 rapid growth that within eighteen months th
 immigrant can surround his abode with attraction
 which would require years to mature in less favcre
 climates Fruits ripen and are ready for markt
 A full month before the California product. Th
 bright sunshine makes life luxury, and the pur
 dry atmosphere brings health to all who inhale i
 For the establishment c: colonies, such as we hay
 made oi Southern California q arden Atizon , presents ,11riva'ca orpartu4ities lhoussnds