The Arizona sentinel., 1897-01-30


 generous. They seem especially adapted for the grape, olive and citrus fruits generally. Their soil contains more msgnesia, Tine or chalk than the bottom lands. It cracks and retains moisture admirably in 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, exposure to the air, after one year old, to become turbd and change color in the bottle or glass.
 We 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 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, eFes tbe most skert ical, ofthe wonderful superiority Of Yuma County over Southern California in fruit growing, End which must lead to a large and varied production, of the most remunerative character.
 The Commissioner of Immigration in his report, published in 1886, writes as follows of the rich valley. 0; 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 journey to the sea. By constant overlows and change of channel, the deposit of this rich vegetable matter has form ed soil of extreme fertility, Near the streams it is a dark aluvial mold, well adapted to small grains and grasses. Farther back there is rich sandy lo1m, mellow and porous, and especially favorable for fruit culture. It has been already demonstrated that the productive capacity of these valleys not surpassed by lands of equal area in any part of the United States. So rapid and prolific is the growth of the ruits cereals and vegetables that the labor of the cultivator 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 sapling before his door, and within the year he has shade tree twenty-five feet highl 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 a showing? The climate, it must be remem- bered, is nearly perpetual summer. Snow never fallsn these southern valleys. The farmer begins to plant in November, and by the middle of May his harvest is ready. Roses are in bloom, fruit trees blossoming, 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 twGhty-ive 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 in 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 the sugarcane but little attention is paid to the cuti vation of other staples; but it has been ednstrat- ed that the soil and climate are 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 adaptabihty for fruit culture that assures to these valley lands dense popula- tion and aprosperous future. Almost every var iety known can c raised in their fruitful soils. The apple pear, plum, peach, apricot, quince and nee tarinc are of delicious flavor, and give gen erous yield. The grape of all varieties isa home in these sunny vales. No place in the grape-grow- ing belt of the Pacific Coast show so prolific a yield, The quality is all that could be desired; and the wine, although it's manufacture is yet ex- perimental is of a 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.
 'Besidcs the fruits already mentioned, the or angc, lemon, linre 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- tvated at 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 ivers there is room for thousands. It is not teo much to say that nowhere within the limits of this broad Union be found a more desirable region for the making of home. No laborious clearing of She land is required; it lies almost ready for the ploT. Trees and shrubbery have so rapid growth that within eighteen months the immigrant can surround his abode with attractions which would require years to mature in lessfRvored climates. Fruits rpen and are ready for market a full month before the California product. The bright sunshine makes life luxury. and the pure dry atmosphere brings health to all who lnhale It. For the establishment of colonies, such as we have made of Southern California a arden, Arizona presents rnrivaled opportunities Thousands Of