The Arizona sentinel., 1897-03-20
FRUIT CULTURE.

Fruit production throughout Arizona is a sub ject great interest at present, and WIZ 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 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 tbe most skept- 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 in 1888, writes follows of the rich valleys of the Gila. Colorado and Salt rivers.
 "The soil of these valleysis 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 overhows and change of channel the deposit of this rich vegetable matter has form ed soil of extreme fertility, Near the streams Il is dark alluvial mold, well adapted to small grains and grasses. Farther back there IS 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 celtivAtor is reduced to the minipyzm. Tn nearly all of them two crops year can be growth, and vegetation is one month ahead 1 nlantG a cottonwood sapling 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 an actual fact the grape-cuttings have produced within elgh teen monthsl What State or Territory can make such showing? The climate, it must be remem hered is nearly perpetual summer. Snow never falls in these southern valleys. The farmer begin; | to plant in November, and by the middle of May his harvest is ready Roses are in bloom, fruit trees are blossoming and the grain fields are sGa 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-tropi' 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
 
 all the cultivated grasses grow luxuriantly, thu former giving from eight to ten tons to the acr each year, Every variety of vegetable raised il the United States can be grown in Arizona, anC nowhere are they found of better quality.
 "Besdes the products mentioned, these semi tropical valleys produce cotton, sugar-cane, to- bacco hemp and rice. With the exception of tn sugarcane but little attention is paid to the culti vaton of other staples; but it has been demonstrat ed that the soil and climate are specially adapted to their successful growth. Cotton growing is m l 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.
 osBut it is their adaptabilty for fruit culttr | that assures to these valley lands dense popula tion and aprosperous future. Almost every var ietv known can be raised in their fruitful soils. Tn apple, pear, plum, peach, apricot, quince and nee tarine are of delicious flavor, and give gen erous yield. The grape of all varieties isa hom in these sunny wales. 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 perimental, is of fine flavor delicious bouquet and unsurpassed Dy any haIlfe pTOuuCb do t@Ol beverage Experiments with the raisin-grap have shown that this climate and soil posses every advantage for the production and curing 0 this staple article of commerce.
 'Besides the fruits already mentioned, the or ange, lemon, lime, olive, fig, pomegranate, an others of the citrus family, can be grown success fully in the valleys of Southern Arizona. Orang trees are now in bearing in the Salt River valle and at Yuma; while the bananas is also being cul 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 th Gila rivers, there is room for thousands It is no too much to say that nowhere within the limits 0 this broad th;cn can be found more desirabl region for the making of 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 immigrant can surround his abode with attraction which would require years to mattte in less favore climates. Fruits ripen and are ready for markc 4 full month before the California product. Tn bright sunshine makes life luxury, and the pure dry atmosphere brings health to all who inhale It For the establishment of colonies, such as we hay made of Southern California arden, Arizon presents uuriyaled opportunities Thousands 0