The Arizona sentinel., 1897-07-17
HoWh9Fe bt stlt.. 'aS5tt, tohtAIning as It l1t3 a essegtiIl elements of richness and f. rsiiity.
 FRUIr CELTLRE

can nowhere be surpassed, containing as tt does al tc essegti4l elements of F i;huess and f rsiiity.
 FRUIr CULTURE.
 Fruit production throughout Arizona is a sub ject great interest at present, and VIII no doubt, be the principal industry in Yuma County. The remarkable results that have sprung from very superficial and i'm erirot culture has de- monstrated tnst the soil and climate Os Yuma County peculiarly adapted for tbis nrarch of Asri G.turai etcTP is. Tna isveio prne,t of these resources is oI ne 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, the wonderful superiority of Yuma County over Southern California in fruit growing, and which must lead to a large and varied production, of the most remunerative character.
 The Co missioner of Immigration in his report, published in iss6, writes follows of the rich valleys of the Gila, Colorado and Calt 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 ourneg to the sea- By constar toverfiows and change of channel, OI tll4S hlou'cA A'-' ed soil of xtreme fertility, Near the streams it is dark alluvial mold, well adapted to smali grains and grasses Farther back there is a rieh sandy loan, mellow and porous, and especially favorable for fruit culture. I5 has been already demonstrated that the productive capacity ef 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 cueivator is reduced to the minimum. In nearly all of them two crops year ! can be growth and vegetation is one month ahead | of California The farmers plants cottonwood sapIing 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 grapecuttings have produced within eigh- | teen months, What State Territory can mako ! such showing? The climate, it must be remem- l bered, is nearly perpetual summer. Snow never l falls in these southern valleys. The farmer begins l to plant in November, and by the middle of Nay his harvest is ready. Roses are in bloom, fruit trees are blossoming, and the grair 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 luxuriantly, the former giving from eight to ten tons to the acre each year, Every variety of vegetable raised i'll 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, sugareane, to-
 bacco, hemp and rice. With the exception of tht
 sugar-cane but little attention is paid to the cuti
 vation of other staples but it has been demonstrat ed that the soil and climate specially adapted
 to their successful growth. Cotton growing is n' 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.
 'sBut it is their adaTtabihty for fruit cultur that assures to these valley lands dense popula
 ton and prosperous future Almost every var
 ietv known can be raised in their fruitful soils. Th apple, pear, plum, peach, apricot quinee and nee tariue. are of delicious flavor, and give gen erous yield The grape of all varieties ia hom in these sunny wales. No place in the grape-grow
 ing belt of the Pacific Coast show so prolific yield. The quality is all that could be desired and the wine, although it's manufacture IS yet ex nerimental is of a fine flavor, delicious bouquet
 and unsurpassed by any native product as tabl l beveraoe 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.
 ''Besides the fruits already mentioned, tho or ange, lemon,. lime, olive, fig. pomesranate, an | ha fully in the valleys of SoutbeIn Arizona. Orang trees are now in bearing in the Salt River vale and at Yuma; while the bananas is also being cul tivated at the latter place. The Arizona orange
 quality and flavor will compare favorably with tn
 best California.
 "In the valleys of the Colorado. the Salt and tn Gua livers, there is room for thousands. It is no teo much to say that nowhere within the limits C { this broad Union 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 maturs in less favore
 climates. Fruits ripen and are ready for marke
 full month b fore the California product. Tn
 bright sunshine makes life luxury, and the pure
 dry atmosphere brings health to all who inhae Il
 For the establishment of colonies, such as we hay made of Southern California arden, Arizon presents unrivaed opportunities Thousands c acres, now proftless, can be made productiv by the construction of rrgating ditcheS, and ther t is no investment which assures larger or nor y permanent returns.''
 y The foregoing statements not exaggerated in fact they iaH short of doing justice to this won l. derful land. PineappleS, dates, almonds and Wal nuts will do well Strawberries, raspberries, black t berries entrants, Gooseberries and all varieties
 small fruits can be successfully cultivated. Indeed { Yuma County is not only the natural home of tn q citrus and seni-trcpioal fruits as almost ever 2 fruit, nut, plant, grain, grass vegetable whic eau be produced in either tropic temperate zone d will thrive in it's rich and fertile soils
 ARIZONA.
 s Arizona stands at the threshold of al e era of wonderful social and industrial de ' velopment. There can't be doubt abou
 Al cz-