The Arizona sentinel., 1896-09-26
FRUIT CULTURE.

FRUIT CULTURE.
 Fruit production throughout Arizona ig 2 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 are peculiarly adapted for this branch of
 agricultural enterprise. The development of these
 resources is of the utmost importance and is at
 tracing carefnl 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
 teal, ofthe wonderful superiority of Yuma County
 over Southern California in fruit growing, and
 which must lead to large and varied production,
 of the most remunerstive character.
 The Con missioner Of Immigration in his report,
 published in Sse, writes follows of the rich
 valleys of the Gila, Colorado and Salt rivers
 The soil of these valleys is among the richest
 on the continent. l. 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 overnows and change of channel, the deposit oi this rich vegetable Iaqtter has form
 cd soil of ,xtreme fertility, Near the streams
 is q dark aluvial mold well adapted to small grains snd grasses Farther back there is g rich sandy loaln, 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 cutiyator is reduced to the minimum. Tn nearly all of them two crops year can be growth and vegetation is one month ahead of California. The farmers plants cottonwood sapling before his door, and within the year he has a shade tree twenty-five feet high Alfalfa can be cut six times during the season. and it is actual fact the grape-cuttings have produced within eigh- teen months, What State Territory make such a 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 Way his harvest is ready. Roses are in bloom, fruit trees are bIossoming, and the grair 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 yege 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 luxuriantly, the former giving from eight to ten tons to the acre each year, Every variety of vegetable raised in the United States be grown in Arizona, and nowhere are they found of better quality.
 "Besides the products mentioned, these semi 1,rolupe a. bacco, hemp and rice. With the exception of the sugarcane but little attention is paid to the culti vation of other staples but it has been demonstrate ed that the soil a2d 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 found the Pima Indians wearing fabrics made of cotton grown in the 'G:la valley.
 ''But it is their adaptabihty for fruit culture that assures to these valley lands dense popula tion and aprosperous future. Almost every var ety known be raised in their fruitful soils. The apple, pear, plum, peach, apricot, quince and nee tarine, are of delicious flavor, and give a gen erous yield. The grape of all varieties i. a home In these sunny wales. No place in the grape grow ing belt of the Pacific Coast show prolific a yield. The quality is all that could be desired; and the wine, although it's manufacture is vet ex perimental, is of fine flavor, delicious bouquet, and unsurpassed by any native product table beverage. Experiments with the r2isin-grape have shown that 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, 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- ivated at the latter place. The Arizona orange in quality and flavor will compare favoraby with the l 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 can be found luore desirable | region for the making of a home. No laborious l clearing of the land is required; it lies almost ! ready for the blow. Trees and shrubbery have so rapid Q growth that within eighteen months the ] immigrant can surround his abode with attractions l which would require years to mature in less favored climates. Fruits ripen and are ready for market l 4 full month b fore the California product. The | bright sunshine makes lie luxury, and the pure, dry atmosphere brings health to all who inhale 1t. Tor the establishment of colonies such as Yc have made of Southern California a. arden, Arizona urese1'- uuriyalrd opnort,mities Thousands of