The Arizona sentinel., 1897-08-14
can nowhere Je surpassed, containing as it does all the essential elements of richness and fertility.
FRUIT CULTURE.

can nowhere Je surpassed containing as does all the essential elements of richness and fertility.
 FRUIT CULTURE.
 Fruit production throughout Arizona is sub ject great interest at present, and wlll 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 a 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 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 hemes in their journey to the sea. By constant overiows and change of channel, the deposit of this rich vegetable matter has form ed soil of extreme fertility, Near the streams it is dark alluvial mold, well adapted to small ! grains and grasses. Farther back there is 8 rich sandy loam, mellow and porous, and especially l 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 cutivator 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 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 grapecuttings have produced within eigh- teen months! What State or Territory can make | such showing? The climate, it must be irennem- 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 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-tropie zones can be produced in the valleys of Arizona. Wheat, 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 luxuTiantly, 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 eult vaton of other staples but 1t has been demonstrat ed that the soil and climate specially adapted to their successful growth. cetton-growing is nc 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.
 'sBut it is their adastabilty for fruit culture that assures to these valley lands dense popula- ton and aprosperous future. Almost every var iety known 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 iss home In these sunny valss. No place in the grape-grow ing belt of the Pachc 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 fine flavor, delicious bouquet | and unsurpassed by any native product 8 table 1 beverage. Experiments with the raisin-grap' have shown that this climate and soil posses; every advantage for the production and curing oi 1 this staple article of commerce.
 'Besides the fruits already mentioned, the or l olive 6o- n0ma0ranate anC 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 tivated at the latter place. The Arizona orange ir quality and flavor will compare favorably with the best California.
 "In the valleys of the Colorado, the Salt and th' GiIa rivers, there is for thousands. It is Re too much to say that nowhere within the limits o this broad Union can be found more desirable region for the making of home. No laborioui l clearing of the land is required; 1t lies alraos l ready for the blow. Trees and shrubbery have SC rapid growth that within eighteen months the immigrant can surround his abode with attractions which would require years to mature in less favored climates Fruits ripen and are ready for market 1 full month before the California product. The 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 have made of Southern California arden, Arizona presents unrivaled opportunities Thousands oi acres now proftless, be made productive by the construction of irrgating dtches and there is TO investment which assures larger or more permanent returns"
 The foregoing statements are not 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, raspberries, black berries, currants gooseberries, and all varieties oi 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, grass vegetable which eau be produced in either tropic temperate none | will thrive in it's rich and fertile soils.