The Arizona sentinel., 1896-10-03
FRUIT CULTURE.

FRUIT CULTURE.
 | Fruit production throughout Arizona is a sub 1 jeOt 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- 1 monstrated tha' the soil and climate of Yuma
 County are peculiarly adapted for this branch of agricultural enterp"is. The development of these | resources is of the utmost importance and is at
 tracing careful attention. Experiments have been
 made, with care and facts in regard to the culture of different kinds of fruits have been collected
 vhch 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 rcmunerative character.
 The Coz missioner 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 constai overflows and change of channel,
 the deposit of this rich vegetable matter has form
 ed a soil of ,xtreme fertility, Near the streams it
 is dark alluvial 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 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 labo- of the cultvator is reduced to the minimum In nearly all of them two crops year can be growth, and vegetation is one month ahead of California. The farmers plants cottonwood sapling before his door, and within the he has a shade tree twenty-five feet high! Alfalfa 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 Nay his harvest is ready. Roses are in bloom, fruit trees are blossoming, and the grair fields are sea of green, when the fields of the Eastern farmers are covered with snow and ice.
 Every variety grains grasses, fruits and vcge 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 luxuriantly, the former giving from eight to ten tons to the acre each year, Every variety of vegetable raised im the United States can be grown in Arizona, and 1 nowhere they found of better quality.
 ''Besides the products mentioned, these semi l tropical valleys produce cotton, sugar-cane, to- bacco, hemp and rice. With the exception of the l sugar-cane but little attention is paid to the cult 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 l when the Europeans first penetrated this region. 1 they found the Pima Indians wearing fabrics | made of cotton grown in the Gila valley
 But it is their adaptabillty for fruit culture | that assures to these valley lands dense popula- tion and aprosperous future. Almost every var | iey known can be raised in their fruitful soils The apple, pear, plum, beach, apricot, quinee and nee tarine, are of delicious flavor, and give gen | erous yield. The grape of all varieties i home | in these sunny vales. No place in the grape grow ing belt of the Pacific Coast show prolific a | yield. The quality is all that could be desired; | and the wine, although its manufacture is vet ex perimental, is of fine flavor, delicious bouquet, | and unsurpassed by any native product a5 a table l beverage. Experiments with the raisin-grape | have shown that this climate and soil possess 1 every advantage for the production and curing of this staple article of commerce.
 "Besides the fruits already mentioned the or l ance, lemon, linre, olive, fg, pomegranate, and | others of tlo citrus family, be grown success fully in the valleys Of SouSberp Arizona. Orange | 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 will compare fayorably with the best California.
 "In the valleys of the Colorado, the Salt and the Gila rivers, there is room for thorsands It is not too much to say that nowhere within the limits of this broad Union can be found more desirable region for the making of home. No laborious clearing of the land is required; it lies almost ready for the blow. Trees and shrubtery have so immigrant can surround his abode with attractions wch would require years to mature in less favored climates Fruits ripen and are ready for market a full month b fore the California product. The bright sunshine makes life luxury, and the pure, dry atmosphere brings health to all who inhale it.. For the establishment of colonies, such have made of Southern California arden, Arizona presents rnriraIed oppoytuaitics Thou5anas 0f