The Arizona sentinel., 1897-07-10

the essential elements of richness and fertility.
 FRUIT CULTURE.
 Fruit production throughout Arizona is & sub ieet 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 careful attention. Experiments have been made with care, and facts in regard to sne culture of different kinds of fruits have been collected which cannot fail to convince, even tbe most skept ical, of 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 Con nmissioner of Immigration h his report, published in 1883, writes follows of the rich valleys of the Gila Colorado and Salt rivers
 "The soil of theso 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 the streams it is a dark allavial mold. we'll adapted to small grains and grasses. Farther back there is a rich sandy loan, 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 in any part of the United States. So rapid ad 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 year he has shade tree twenty five feet hiehl Alfalfa can be cut six times during the season. and it is an actual fact the grape cuttings have produced within eigh- teen moGths. What State or Territory can make such 8 showing? The climate, it must be remeEa- 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 his harvest is ready. Roses are in bloom, fruit trees are blos7oming, and the greir 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 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-eane, to- bacco, hemp and rice. With the exception of the sugar-cane but ltle attention is paid to the cuti- vaton of other staples but it 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 adaptabihty for fruit culture that assures to these valley lands dense popula- tion and prosperous future. Almost every var ety known can be raised in their fruitful soils. The apple, pear, plum, beach, apricot, quinee and nee tarine, are of delicious flavor, and give gen erous yield. The grape of all varieties i-s home in these sunny vales. No place in the grape-grow- ing belt of the Pacific Coast can show so prolific a yield. The quality is all that could be desired; and the wine, although it's manufacture IS vet ex- perimeatal is of fine flavor, delicious bouquet, and unsurpassed by any native product as a 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.
 'fBesidas the fruits already mentioned, the or ange, lemon, lime, 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- tivated 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 can be found more desirable region for the making of home. No laborious clearing of the land is required; it lies almost ready for the blow. Trees and shrubbery have so rapid growth that within eighteen months the immigrant can surround his abode with attractions which would require years to matur2 in less favored climates. Fruits rpen and are ready for market full month b fore the California product. The bright sunshine makes life luxury, and the pure, dry atmosphere brings health to all who inhale r. For the establishment of colonies, such we have made of Southern California a arden, Arizona presents nnrivaled opportunities Thousands of acres, now prohtless, can be made productive by the construction of rrgatng ditches, and there is no investment which assures larger or more permanent returns"
 The foregoing statements are rot exaggerated; in fact they fall short of doing justice to this won derful land Pineapples, dates, almonds and wal nuts will do we'll Strawberries, raspherries, black berries, currants gooseberries and all varieties of small fruits can be successfully cultivated Indeed Yuma County is not only the natural home of the citrus and semi-tropical fruits, almost every fruit nut, plant, grain, gra's vegetable which eau be produced in either tropic temperate zone, will thrive in it's rich and fertile soils.