The Arizona sentinel., 1897-10-02
can nowhere be surpassed, containing as it does all the essential elements of richness and fertility.
FRUIT CULTURE.

FRUIT CULTURE.
 Fruit production throughout Arizona is a 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. Tine 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, 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 Commissioner of Immigration in his report, published in 1888, writes as follows ef 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 journeS to the sea. By constant overhows and change of channel the deposit of this rich vegetable matter has form ed soil of extreme fertility, Near th3 streams it is dark alluvial mold, well adapted to small grains and grasses. Farther back there is a rich | 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 area 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 cutivator is reduced to the minimum. nearly all of them two crops year Io of California. The farmers plants a cottonwood saplng before his door, and within the Year he has shade tree twenty-five feet high! Alfalfa can be cut six times during the season, and it is actual fact the grape-cuttngs have produced within eigh- teen monthsl 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 May , Lis harvest is ready. Roses in bloom, fruit trees are blossoming, and the grain fields 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 semitropiC 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 tc 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 il the United States can be grown in Arizona, and nowhere are they found of better quality.
 "Besides the products mentioned, these semi tropical valleys produce cotton, sugar-cane, to- bacco hemp and rice With the exception of tht h,ttI ic fo vation of other staples but it has been demonstrat ed that the soil and climate are specially adapted to their successful growth. Cotton growing is nc experiment in Arizona, for it is on record tha when the Europeans first penetrated this region they found the Pima Indians wearing fabric: made of cotton grown in the Gila valley.
 'But it is their adaptabilty for fruit culture that assures to these valley lands dense popua- tion and aprospereus future. Almost every var iety known be raised in their fruitful soils. Th apple, pear, plum, peach, apricot, quince and nee taTine are of delicious flavor, and give gen erous yield. The grape of all varieties iss hom in these sunny vales. No place in the grape-grow ing belt of the Pacific Coast can show so prolific yield. The quality is all that could be desired and the wine, although it's manufacture is yet ex permental, is of fine favor delicious bouquet and unsurpassed by any native product a tabl beverage. Experiments with the raisin-grap have shown that this climate and soil posses every advantage for the production and curing o this staple article of commerce.
 'sBesides the fruits already mentioned, the or ange, lemon, linle, olive, fig. pomegranate, an, others of the citrus family, can be grown success fully in the valleys of Southern Arizona Orang ;v,L and at Yuma; while the bananas is also being eul tivated at the latter place. The Arizona orange il quality and flavor will compare favorably with tn best California.
 ''In the valleys of the Colorado the Salt and tn Gila Iiyers there is room for thousands. It is no too much to say that nowhere within the limits 0 this broad Union can be found a more desirabl region for the making of a home. No laboriou clearing of the land is required; it lies almos ready for the blow. Trees and shrubbery have s rapid growth that within eighteen months tn ,nmigrant can surround his abode with attraction which would require years to mature in less iavore climates. Fruits ripen and ready for marke full month before the California product. Tn bright sunshine makes life a luxury, and the pure dry atmosphere brings health to all who inhale It For the establishment of colonies, such as we hav made of Southern California arden Arizon presents unrivaled opportunities Thousands o acres, now prOftless, can be made productiv the construction of irrgating ditehes, and ther | is no investment which assures larger or nor permanent returns"
 The foregoing statements not exaggerated in fact they fall short of doing justice to this derful land. Pineappes, dates, almonds and wal nuts will do well. Strawberries, raspberres, black berries, currants gooseberries and all varieties small fruits can be successfully cultivated. Indeed Yuma County is not only the natural home of tn citrus and semi-tropical fruits, as almost ever fruit nut, plant, grain, grass or vegetable whicl eau be produced in either tropc temperate zone will thrive in it's rich and fertile soils.