The Arizona sentinel., 1897-07-03
con nowhere be surpassed containing as 1t does all the essential clements Of richness and fertility.
FRUIT CULTURE.

the essential clements Of richness and fertility.
 FRUIT CULTURE.
 Fruit production throughout Arizona is 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 peculiarly adapted for this branch of agricultural enterprise. The development of these resources is of the utmost importance and is at- tracting 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 the mostskept ical, Of the 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 Commissioner of immigration in his report, published III 1sSe, writes follows of the rich valleys of the Gila, Colorado and EaIt 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 oyerfows and change Of channel, the deposit of this rich vegetable matter has form -u SOll UT IAJTSIllG II is a dark alIuyial mold, well adapted to small grains and grasses. Farther Jack there is 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 fruts cereals and vegetables that the labor of the cultvator is reduced to the minimum. Tn nearly all of them two crops a year can be growth, and vegetation is one month ahead of California. The farmers plants a cottonwood sapng before his door, and within the year he has shade tree twenty-five feet hi9hl Alfalfa be cut six times during the season, and it s an actual fact the grape cuttings have produced within eigh- teen months What State or Territory can make such showing? The climate, it must be ren1em- bered, 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 in bloom, fruit trees are blosscming, and the grain fields 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 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 luxuriantiy. 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 i nowhere are they found of better quality.
 ''Besdes the products mentioned, these semi tropical valleys produce cotton, sugarcane, to- bacco hemp and rice. With the exception of the sugar but little attention is paid to the cuti- vation of other staples but it has been demonstrate ed that the soil and climate specially adapted to their successful growth Cotton growing is nc 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.
 s'But it is their adaptabihty for fruit culture that assures to these valley lands dense popula tion and aprosperous future. Almost every var
 cty known car be raised in their fruitful soils. The apple pear, plum, peach, apricot, quince and nec- tarine. are Of delicious favor, and give gen erous yield. The grape of all varieties iSa homo in taese sunny wales. No place in the grape-grow- ing belt of the Pacific Coast can show prolific a vield The quality is all that could be desired and the wine although its manufacture is yet ex- perimentaI, is of Q fine flavor, delicious bouquet, and unsurpassed by any native product as atable 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.
 ''Bcsides 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- tivated ct 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 Iiver5, there is 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 home. No iabor;ous clearing of the land is required; it lies almost ready for the blow. Trees and shrubbery have so rapid growth that within eighteen months the immigrant surround his abode with attractions wiicA would require years to mature in less iaTol a1 climates. Fruits ripen and are ready for market full month D. fore the California product. The bright sunshine mak6s Iis 'rxury. and the pure, dry atmosphere brings health to all who Ihiale E.. For the establishment of colonies, such as we have made of Southern California a arden, Arizona presents unr:valed opportunities Thousands of acres, now prohtless, can be made productive by the construction of irrigating dtches and there is no investment which assures larger CT more permanent returns"
 The foregoing statements are not exaggerated; n fact, they fall sh0rs oi doing justice to this won deriul land. Pineapples, dates, almoads and wal mus will do well Strawberries, raspberries, black berries currents, gooseberries, and all varieties of small fruits be successfully cultivated Indeed, Yuma County is not only the natural home of the citrus and sem-tropical fruits, as alIncst every fruit, nat, plant, grain, gra,s or vegetable which eau be produced in either tropic temperate z9ne, will thrive in its rich and fertile soils.