The Arizona sentinel., 1896-11-21
FRUIT CULTURE.

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- 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, ofthe 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 Con missioner of Immigration in his report published in SSe, 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 overfows and change of channel, the depoit of this rich vegetable matter has form ed soil of ,xtreme fertility, Near the streams it is dark alluvial mold, we'll adapted to small grains and grasses. Farther back there is rich sandy loam, mellow and porous, and especially favorable fer fruit culture. It has been already demonstrated that the productive capacity of these valleys is not surpassed by lan1s of equal in any part of the United States. So rapid and prolific is the growth of the fruts cereals and vegetables haf fhn lnho off C1tlfi ia fO fhe minimum. In nearly all of them two crops a year can be growth, and vegetation is one month ahead of California. The farmers plants a cottonwood sapling before his door, and within the year he has a shade tree twenty-five feet hiCh! Alfalfa be cut six times during the season. and it is actual fact the grapecuttings have produced within eigh- teen moLths! What State or Territory can make such 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 lay his harvest is ready. Roses are in bloom, fruit trees are bIosioming, and the grair fields are SC of green, when the fields of the Eastern farmer; are covered with snow and ice.
 Every variety grains grasses, fruits and vege tables grown in the temperate and scmi-tropic zones eau 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, Bermul4 and all the cultivated grasses grow luxuriant'y, the former giving from eight to ten tons to the acre each year, Every variety of vegetable raised ill the United States can be grown in Arizona and nowhere are they found of better quality.
 
 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 vaton of other staples; but it has been demonstrat ed that the soil and climate specially adapted to their successful growth. Cotton growing is no experiment. in Arizona. for it is on record that when the Europeans first penetrated this region, they foDnd the Pima Indians wearing fabrics made of cotton grown in the Gila valley.
 "But it is their adaptabilIty for fruit culture that assures to these valley lands dense popula ion and prosperous future. Almost every var ety known can be raised in their fruitful soils. The apple, pear plum, peach, apricot, quince and nee sarine, are of delicious flavor, and give gen In these sunny vales, No place in the grape-grow-
  yield. The quality is all that could be desired; md the wine, although its manufacture IS vet ex- permental, is of A fine flavor. delicious bouquet, and unsurpassed by any native product table beverage. Experiments with the raisin-grape nave shown that this climate and soil possess every advantage for the production and curing of this staple article of commerce.
 ''BeSdes the fruits already mentioned, the or ange; lemon, lirse, olive, fig. pomegranate and others of the citrus family, 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 favoraby with the best California.
 ''In the valleys of the Colorado, the Salt and the Gila Iivers there is for thousands. It is not tco much to say that nowhere within the limits of this broad Union can be found more desirable region for the making Of home. No laborious ready for the blow. Trees and shrubEery have so rapid growth that within eighteen months the immigrant can surround his abode with attractions
 which would require years to matur' in less favored climates. Fruits ripen and are ready for market a full month b fore the California product The bright sunshine makes life luxury, and the pure, lry atmosphere brings health to all who inhale It. For the establishment of colonies, such as we have made of Southern California a arden, Arizona l presents ua-iralsd opportunities Theu,;snds of