The Arizona sentinel., 1896-06-20

Of thel Gle and Colorado rivers have for the most
part deep sediaeatnry soil Of brownish, gray
sandy loan, resting, in most places, upon gray
clay subsOl ct dspth of from zen to twenty feet
below the surface. The clay subsoil forms hard
pan whish is impoETious to water. These soils have
been slowly formed by the decomposition of sAaes,
sandstoaes, maris limestones etc, mixed with Or
g1nic AID vegetable matter, washed down by the
mighty rivers and have been gradually deposited
during the course. of centuries. The fersiazing
brownish mud held: in the wat ,lof the Colorado
and CHA rivers resembles that from the Nile, and
its quantity varies from o. to O.5, per-cant.,
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
of the sediments of the Colorado and of thu Nile
exhibits wonderful similarity in the constituent
parts of each. That OF the Colorado exhibiting a
trihe less potassa, most phosphOric acid and car
bonade oilimestome beds through which the Colo
rado passes. In otaer respects the sediment of the
Colorado is almost identical with that of the Nile
1t will be noticed therefore, that when this water is
used for irrigation it is superior to artesan waters
since it is constantly supplying the lapd With the
richestfertAizng elements. The soil of the valleys
is extremely rich in dedomposed vegetable matter.
and uncombined carbon, readily absorbing the
aerial gases, such especially, oxygen, which en-
terng the SOIL dccomposes the organic matters SO
that they can be taken up AMI nourish the plants
which may he considered leading featur, in its
| fertility. 1t also readily takes mp and retains
moisture while the rmness of its particles affords
every facility for percolation and the activity of
capillary action. In its mechanical composition its
particles are in state of very fine division, which
renders it more productive than coarser soils 1t
acquries heat readily in the daytime, and the loss
Of the heat at night is very gradual so that it re-
mains always warm and is not subject to sudden
changes Of heat and cold. BESIDES its essential
| Stituents of water, organic or vegetable matter,
sand aad clay, chemical analysis shows that lime,
| soda, magnesa, iron, ammonia and available forms
of nitrogen, phosphoric acid and potash entor into
composition in the proportions best adapted to
add to its fertility though of course as is Away
the casa in soil analysis its composition varies in
| different localities and is not always constant
3he soil of the uplands, or mesaS, lighter and
r.ere gravelly and in some places of rec, loamy,
cslcareous character. The mesa lands warm and
generous. They seem especially adapted for the
grape, olive and citrus fruits generally Their soil
contains moro magBesia, lime or chalk than the
bottom lands. 1t cracks and retains moisture
admirably in summer 1t is of that character which
will produce wine that will keep good for fifty or
hundred years, and improve annually, not being
liable to souri, or OH exposure to the air, after one
syear old, 10 become turbid and change color in the
bottle or glass.
! We can safely say that the soil of Yuma County
can nowhere be surpassed containing it does all
the essential elements of richness and fertility.