The Arizona sentinel., 1896-03-28
FRUIT CULTURE.

Fruit production throughout Arizona is @ 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 peculiarly adapted for this branch of agricultural enterprise. The development of these resources is of the utmost importance and is at- tracting 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 a large and varied production, of the most remunerative character.
 The Commissioner of Immigration in his report, published in 1886, writes as follors 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 oTeriowS 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 to snIall
 
 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 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 culsiva5or is retUce to the minimum. h nearly all ol them two crops e year can be growth, and vegetation Is one month ahead Of California. The farmers plants cottonwood sapng before his door, and within the year he has shade tree twenty-five feet hirh. Alfalfa can be cut six times during the season, and it is an actual fact the grape-cuttings have produced within eigh- teen moLths What State or Territory mako such a showing? The climate, it must be remem- berei, 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 blos=oming, and the grain fields are sea of green, when the fields of the Eastern farmers are covered with snow and ice.
 Every variety O grains, grasses, fruits and vege- 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 luXurianty, the former giving from eight to ten tons to the acre each year, Every variety of vegetable raised in the United States can be grown in Arizona, and nowhere are they found of better quality.
 ''Besidcs the products mentioned, these semi tropical valleys produce cotton, sugar-cane, to- bacco, hemp and rice. With the exception Of the sugar-cane, but little attention is paid to the culti- vacn oi other staples; but 1t has been denonstrat- ed that the soil and climate are specially adapted to their successful growth. Cotton-growing i5 10 experiment in Arizona, for it is on record that when the Europeans first penetrated this region, they found the Pima Indians wearing fabrics made Of cotton grown in the Gila valley.
 ''Bat i5 is their c5aptabillty fer fruit culture that assures U these valley lands a dense popua- tion and aprosperous future. Almost every var ety known can be raised in their fruitful soils. The apple, pear, plum, peach, apricot, quince and nec tarine, are of delicious flavor, and give gen erous yield. The grape Of all varieties is at home in these sunny wales. No place in the gTape-grow- ing belt of the Pacific Coast can show so prolii; yield. The quality is all that could be desired: end the wine, aithou2hits manufacture is vet ex- perimcntaI, is of fine flavor, delicious bouquet, and unsurpassed by any native product as e table beverage. Experiments with the r-isin- -gc"pc have shown 5hat this climate and soil possess every advantage for the production and curing Of this staple article Of commerce.
 ''Besides the fruits already mentioned, the or ange, lemon, lime, olive, fig, pomcgrauate and others Of the citrus family, be grown success fully in the valleys of SoutbeIn Arizona. Grange trees are now in bearing in the Sal5 River valley and at Yuma; while the bananas is also being cul- tiveted at the latter place. The Arizona orange in quality and flavor will compare favorSJly with the best California.
 ''In the valleys of the Colorado, the Salt and the Gila Iiyers, there is room for thousands 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 a home. No Iaborious clearing of the land is required; it lies almost ready for the plow. Trees and shrubbcry haze SO rapid growth that within eighteen months the immigrant can surround his abode with attractions which would rcq ire years to mature in less favored climates. FrUits ripen and are ready for market full month b,fore the California product. The bright sunshine makes life luxury, and tie pure, dry atmosphere brings health to all who inhale it. For the establishment of colonies, such have made of Southern California arden, Arizona presents unrivaled opportunities Thousands of