The Arizona sentinel., 1896-07-25

of theI Gila and Colorado rivers have for the most part deep sedimeHtary soil of brownish gray .saAdv lanras resting, in most places, uAOn gray clay subsoil at depth of from ten to twenty feet below the surface, The clay sphsojl forms a hard pan which is imperTious to water These soils have been slowly formed by the decomposition of shales sandstones, marls. limestoR9s etc, mixed with ganic and vegetable matter, vsSAed down by the mighty rivers and have been gradually deposited during the course Of cenansies, The fertilizing brownish mud held in the wat c,of the Colorado and Gila rivers resembles that from the Nile, and its quantity varies from O.1 to O.5 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. chemical analysis of the sediments of the Colorado and of the Nile exhibits wonderful similarity in the constituent parts of each That of the Colorado exhibiting 9 trife less potassa, most phoSpho-ic acid and bonade of limestone beds through which the Colo sado pess"s Tn other respects the sediment of the Colorado is almost identical with that or the Nile. It will be noticed therefore that when this water used for irrigation it is superior to artes;an waters since t is constantly supplying the land with the richestfertilizing clements The soil os the valleys is extremely rich in dcdomposed vegetable matter and pncombined carbon, readily absorbing the aerial gSases such especially, oxygen, which tering the soil, decoRoses the organic matters so that they can be taken up and pourish the plants which may be considered leading featur, in its fertility. It also readily takes up and retains
 moisture, while the frmness of its particles affords every facility for percolation and the activity of capillary action. In its mechanical composition its particles are in a state of very fine dvision which renders it more productive than coarser soils It acquiries heat readily in the daytime and 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. Resides its essential con- stitqcnts Of water, organic or vegetable matter, sand and clay, chemical analysis shows that lime, soda magnesia, 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 away the casa in so analysis, its composition varies in difeTent localities and is not always constant
 The soi the uplands, or mcsaS lighter and more gravcliy and in some places of lree, loany, calc2reous 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 imnrovc annually not being liable t3 sour, exposure to the ..r after one year old, to become turb;d and change color in the bottle or glass.
 We can safely say that the soil of Yuma County can nowhere be surpassed, containing asit does all the essential elements of richness and fertility.