The Arizona sentinel., 1896-12-12

Of thei Gils and Colorado rivers have for the most part deep sedimentary soil of brownish, gray saRiy loom, resting, ia most places, upon gray clay subsoi at a depth of from ten to twenty feet be.ez the surface, The clay subsoil forms hard pan which is impervove to water These soils have been slavly formed by she decomposition of shales sandston5s, marls- Imestones, etc, mixed with glnic and vegetable matter, washed down by the mighty rivers and have been gradually deposited turing the course of centuries. The fertilizing 5rownish mud held in the wat ,Iof the Colorado and Gila rivers resembles that from the Nile, and its quantity varies from O.I to O5 per cent
 though the water when even considerably discolor- ed by mud is good to drink resembling in this res pect the Missouri river water. A chemical analysis oG the sediments of the Colorado and of the Nile exhibits wonderful similarity in the constituent parts of each. That of the Colorado exhibiting a trifie less potaSsa, most phosphoric acid and car bonade of limestone beds through which the Colo rado passes. In other respects the sediment of the Colorado is almost identical with tha of the Nile It will be noticed therefore, that when this water is used for irrigation it is superior to artesian waters since it is constantly supplying the land wth the rchestfertilzing elements. The soil of the valleys l and uncombined carbon, readily absorbing the aerial gases, such especially, oxygen which en- teriAg the soil, dccomposes the organic matters so that they can be taken up and nourish the plants whicE may be considered leading feature in its fertility. It also readily takes up and retains moisture, while the rmness of it's particles affords every facility for percolatian and the activity of capillary action. In its mechanical composition it's particles in a state of very fine division which | renders it more productive than coarser soils It acquiries heat readily in the daytime aFd the loss Of the heat at night is very gradual, that it mains always warm and is not subject to sudden changes of heat and cold Besides it's essential con- | stituents of water, organic vegetable matter, sand and clay, chemical analysis shows that Iime soda, magnesa, iron, ammonia and available forms of nitrogen, phosphoric acid and potash enter into composition in the proportions best adapted to add to it's fertility though of course as is always the case in soil analysis it's composition varies in different localities and is not always constant
 The soi O the upiands, or mesas, lighter and more gravelly and in some places of 8 .ree loamy, calcareous character. The mesa lands are warm and generous They seem especially adapted for the grape, olive and citrus fruits generally Their soil contains more magnesia, lime or chalk than the bottom lands. It cracks and retains moisture admirably in summer It is of that character which will produce wine that will keep good for fifty or hundred years, and improve annually, not being liable to sour, or on exposure to the air. after year old, to become turbid and change color in the bottle or glass
 We csp safely say that the soil of Yuma County Ina aII the essential elements of richness and fertility.