The Arizona sentinel., 1897-06-26


 used for irrigation it is superior to arte5ian waters
 since it is constantly supplying the land with the
 rchestfertilzing elements The soil of the valleys is extremely rich in dedomposed vegetable matter
 and uneombined carbon, readily absorbing the
 aerial gases, such especially, oxygen, which en- terng the soil decomposes the organic matters so
 that they can be taken up and nourish the plants which may he considered a leading feature in It's fertility It also readily takes up and retains
 moisture while the frmness oi it's particles affords
 every facility for percoation and the activity of
 capillary action. In it's mechanical composition it's
 particles are in a state of very fine division which renders it more productive than ccarser soils It
 acquires heat readily in the daytime, and the loss
 of the heat at night is very gradual that it re- ] mains always warm and is not subject to sudden
 changes of heat and cold. Besides it's essential stituents of water, organic or vegetable matter,
 sand and clay, chemical analysis shows that lime,
 soda, magnesia, iron, ammonia and available forms of nitroSen phosphorc acid and potash enter into composition in tn proportions best adapted to
 add to it's fertility, though, of course, as is alway
 the case in soil analysis, its composition varies in different localities and is not always constant The soi the uplands, or mesas, lighter and
 iiiDTe III pltceS OI Lree, | calcareous character The mesa lands are warm and generous. They seem especially adapted for the
 grape olive and citrus fruits generally, Their soil contains more magnesia, lime chalk than the bottom lands It never cracks and retains moisture
 admirably ill summer. It is of that character which will produce wine that will keep good for fifty or , hundred years, and improve annually, not being
 liable to souri, or exposure to the air, after one
 year old to become tprbid and change color in the
 bottle or glass.
 We can safely say that the soil of Yuma County
 can nowhere be surpassed, containing as it does all
 the essential elements of richness and fertility. 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. The development of these resources is of the utmost importance and is at
 tracing carefnl attention. Experiments have been
 made, with care, end facts in regard to the culture ! of different kiods Of fruits have been collected which cannot fil to convince, even the mostskep5- ical ofJhe wonderful superiority oi Yuma County over outhorn California in fruit growing, and
 which must lead to a large and varied production, of the most renunerat7e character.
 The 70 missioner of Immigration in his report, published in 8s8, writes as follows Of the rich valley. Of the Gil2. Colorado and ;at rivers. ''The sojl of these valleys is among the richest on the continent. It is formed of the detritus | etr for bo., hvcu IOuyD from their mountain homes in their journey to the sea- By constant overfows and change of channel, the deposit of this rich vegetable matter has form ed soil of ,xtreme fertility, Near the streams it is dark aluvial mold, well adapted to small grains and grasses. Farther back there is rich sandy loam mellow and porous, and especially favorable fer fruit culture. It 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 cultivator 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 he has shade tree twenty-five feet high! Alfalfa can be cut six times during the season. and it is actual fact the grapecuttings have produced within eigh- teen months! What State or Territory can make such showing? The climate, t 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 Nay his harvest is ready Roses are in bloom, fruit trees 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 smal grains give yield of from twenty-five to fifty bushels to the acre. Alfalfa, clover, timothy, Bermuda and all the cultivated grasses grow luxUrianty, the former giving from eight to ten tons to the acre each year, Every variety of vegetable raised ill the United Stases can be grown in Arizona, and noahere arc they found of better quality.
 ''Besdes the products mentioned, these semi tropical val eys produce cotton, sugar cane, to- bacco, hemp and rice. With the exception of the sugareane, but little attention paid to the cuti- vaton of other staples; but.i has been demonstrat ed that the soil and 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 Gila valley.
 ''But it is. their sdaptabhty for fruit culture that assures to these valley lands dense popula tion and aprosperous future. Almost every var-' ety known can be raised in their fruitful soils The apple, pear, plum, peach, apricot, quince and nee tarine, are of delicious flavor, and give gen. erous yield. The grape of all varieties isa home 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 by any native product as table 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.
 'eBesiGes the fruits already mentioned, the or ange, lemon, lime, olive, fig. pomegranate, and others of the citrus family, can 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- tvated at the latter place. The Arizona orange in quality and flavor gil compare fGvorabiy with the best California.
 'n the valleys of the Coloredo, the Salt end the Cia iiyers, there $ for th usands. It is not too much 70 say that nowhere within tie limits Of this broad Union can be found mere desirable reaion for the making of home. No laborious clearing Of the land is required; it lies almost ready sor he pow. Trees and -hrub1ery nave so raoif growth that within eighteen months the immigrant can surround his abode win attractions whcl would require years to matur1 H less favored climates Fruits ripen and are ready for nar'et a full month before the California product. The
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