The Arizona sentinel., 1896-12-26
FRUIT CULTURE.

l Fruit production throughout Arizona is sub l ject 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 inn erfect culture has de
 monstrated tha' the soil and climate of Yuma
 County are pcculiarly adapted for thi, branch of agricultural entcrp"is The development of these | Iesources is of the utmost importance and is at | tracting careful attention. Experiments ve been
 made, with clre and facts in regard to .he culture
 Of different kinds of fruits have been collected
 which cannot fail to convince, even tbe most skept
 ieal, fthe wonderful superiority of Yuma County
 over southern California in fruit growing, and
 which must lead to a lIrse and varied production,
 of the most romunorative character.
 The To missioner of Immigration in his report,
 published ill SS5, writes as follows of the rich
 valley of the Gila. Colorado and Calt rivers.
 The soil of these valleys is among the r,ai1a
 on the continent. It is formed of the tuS
 which the streams for ages have brought down
 from their noun ain homes in their journey to the
 sea. By consta overdows and change of channel.
 the depo it of this rich vegetable matter has form
 ed soil of ,xtreme fertility, Near the streams it
 is a dark aluval mold well adapted to small
 sr in, and grasses Farther back there is ri sandy loan. mellow an | porous, and especially
 favor lble for fruit GU ture. It has been already
 lemon 'trlted that the produ tive pacty of these valleys is not SurpaSe by Ian Is of equal in any part of the United ates So rapid and prolific is the growth of the fruits, cereals and vegetables that the labor of the cutivator is re iucel to the minimum. In nearly all of them two crops a year can be growth ani vegetation is one month ahead of Cliforni The flrmers llnts cottonwood srpling before his door, and within the year he has a sh1 le tree twenty five feet hi h. Alfalfa can be cut six ti mes lriny the s9t'DI anl is an actual ia the gr lpe cuttings have praducel within eigh teen ths, What State Territory can make such a showing? The cli.hate, it must be remem- bered is nearly pcrpeiull summer Snow never fall, in these southern valleys The farmer begins to plant in November, and by the middle of Way his harvest is r5ady Roses are in bloom fruit trees are bios omng, and the grair fells 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 ant semi tropic zones can be produced in the valleys of Arizona. Wheat, corn barley, oats and all the small grains . the acre. Alfalfa, clover, timothy Bermu la all all the cultivated grasses grow luxuri lntly, she former giving from eight to ten tons to the acre each year, Every variety of vegetable raj ,ed in the United Sta.es be grown in Arizona and nowhere are they found of bett quality.
 "Besides the products mentioned, these semi tropical val cys produc: cottoa, sugar-cane, to- bacco, hemp and rice. With the exception of the sugar-cane but little attention is paid tn the cuti vation of other staples but is has been demonstrat ed that the soil and climate are specially adapted to their successful growth Cotton growing is no experiment in ArizUna, for it is on record that when the Europeans first penetrated this region, they fonnd the rima Indians wearing fabrics made of cotton grown in the Cila wiley.
 ''But it is their adaptabillty for fruit culture that to these valley lands dense popula- tion and aprosperous future. Almost every var 1 iety known be raised in their fruitful soils. The apple pear, plum, peach, apricot, quince and nee tarine, are of delicious faTor, and give gen erous yield. The grape of all varieties home 1 in these sunny wales. No place in the grape-grow- ing belt of the Pacif; Coast show prolific a | yield, The quality is all that could be desired: and the wine, although its manufacture Is ct ex- perimental, is of fine flavor, delicious boEquet, | and unsurpassed by any native product as a table 1 beverage. Experiments with the raisin grape | have shown that this climate and soil possess every advantage for the production and curing of | this staple article of commerce.
 "Besides tle fruits already mentioned the or | auge, lemon, lnre, olive, fig. pomegranate, and | others of the citrus family, can be grown success fully in the valleys of Southern 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 favorably with the best California.
 ''In the valleys of the Colorado, the Salt and the Gila rivers, there is for thousands It is not too much to say that nowhere within the limits of this broad Union be found more desirable region for the making of a home. No laborious clearing of the land is required; it lies almost ready for the blow. Trees and .hrub cry have so rapid growth that within eighteen months the can surround his abode with attractions wnics would require years to matur. in less favored climates. Fruits rpen and are ready for market a full month fore the California product The bright sunshine makes life luxury, and the pure, fry atmosphere brings health to all who h,hale II. For the establishment of colonies, such we have made of Southern California arden, Arizona ,EessatS unrivalsd opportunities Thousands O.