The Arizona sentinel., 1896-08-08
FRUIT CULTURE.

Fruit production throughout Arizona is a 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 tracing 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 remunerative character.
 The Commissioner of Immigration in his report, published in 1886, writes as follows of the rich valleys of the Gila. Colorado and Salt rivers.
 ''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 overlows and change of channel, the deposit of this rich vegetable matter has form ed soil of extreme fertility, Near the streams it is dark alluvial mold, well adapted tossmalI grains and grasses. tarUner DdCk lH6EO lS d HUI sandy loam, mellow and porous, and especially favorable for fr1it 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. Ia nearly all of them two crops yea< can be growth, and vegetation is one month ahead of California. The farmers plants cottonwood sapling before his door, and within the year he has 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 l sueh 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 blossoming, 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 Il zones can be produced in the valleys of Arizona Wheat corn barley, oats and all the small grains give a 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 il 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 sugarcane, but little attention is paid to the cuti vaton 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 fabrics made of cotton grown in the Gila valley.
 ''But it is their adaptabihty for fruit cpltUr that assures to these valley lands dense popula ton and aprosperous future. Almost every var iety known can be raised in their fruitful soils. Th apple, pear, plum, peach, apricot, quince and nee l tarine, are of delicious flavor, and give gen erous yield. The grape of all varieties is at hom Iin these sunny wales. 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 T and the wine, althoughits manufacture is vet ex permental, is of fine flavor, delicious bouquet and unsurpassed by any native product as tabl beverage Experiments with the raisin-grap have shown that this climate and soil posses every advantage for the production and curing o :. this stape article. of commerce.
 ''Besides the fruits already mentioned, the or ange, lemon, lime, olive, fig, pomegranate, an others of the citrus family be grown success , fully in the valleys of Southern Arizona. Orang J. trees are now in bearing in the Salt River valle , and st Yuma; whilethe bananas is also being cul .1 tivated at the latter place. The Arizona orange il
 quality and flavor will compare favorably with tn
 best California.
 ''In the valleys of the Colorado, the Salt and tn Gila rivers, there is for thousands It is no
 too much to say that nowhere within the limits c
 this hzoad Union can be found more desirabl region for the making of home. No laborou clearing of the land is required; it lies almos
 ready for the blow Trees and shrubbery have S
 rapid growth that within eighteen months tn
 immigrant can surround his abode with attraction
 which would require years to mature ipless favore
 climates. Fruits ripen and are ready for marke
 a full month before the California product. Tn
 bright sunshine makes lie luxury, and the pure
 dry atmosphere brings health to all who inhae 1t For the establishment of colonies such as we hay
 made of Southern California a arden, Arizon
 n-esarts unrivsled opportunities Thorsspds .