The Arizona sentinel., 1897-09-25
can nowhere be surpassed, containing as it doss a the essential elements of richness and fertility.
FRUIT CULTURE.

can nowhere be surpassed containing as it doss all the essential elements of richness and fertility. FRUIT CULTURE.
 Fruit production throughout Arizona is sub | tect great interest at present, and will 10 doubt, be the principal industry in Yuma County. | The remarkable results that have sprung trosa 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 earefnl 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 lsS6, 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 homes in their journey to the sea. By constant overhows and change of channel,
 
 ed soil of extreme fertility, Near ths streams it is dark alluvial mold, well adapted to small grains and grasses. Farther back there is rich sandy loam, 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 and prolific is the growth of the fruits, cereals and vegetables | haf 1oh1 1Rk minimum. in nearly all ot them two crops yeay can be growth, and vegetation is one month ahead of California. The farmers plants . cottonwood sapiing 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, it 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 May His harvest is ready. Roses are in bloom, fruit trees are blossoming, and the grair fields 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 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 euti vaon of other staples but it has been demonstrat- ed that the soil and climate are specially adapted to their successful growth. Cotton growing is no experiment in Arizona, for 1t 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 adaPtabillty for fruit culture that assures to these valley lands dense popula | tion and aprospereus future. Almost every var iety known be raised in their fruitful sols The apple, pear, plum, peach, apricot, quince and nec- tarine, are of delicious favor and give gen. | erous yield. The grape of all varieties isa homo In these sunny vales. No place in the grspe-grow- ing belt of the Pacific Coast can show so prt life 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 bouuuet and unsurpassed by any native product as table l beverage. Experiments with the raisin-gr have shown that this climate and soil possess every advantage for the production and curing of this staple article of commerce.
 | "Besides the fruits already mentioned, the or | ange, lemon, lime, olive, fig. pomegranate, and I others of the citrus family, be grown success fully in the valleys of Southern Arizona Orange trees 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 Iivers there is room for thousands It Is not too much to say that nowhere within the limits of this broad Union can be found s 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 mature in less favored climates. Fruits ripen and are ready for market full month before the California product The bright sunshine makes life luxury. and ths pure, dry atmosphere brings health to all who inhale It. | Lne or cOlOnleS, buCR 2S we nave made of Southern California arden, Arizona presents unrivaIed opportunities Thousands of | acres, now profitless, can be made productive by the construction of rrigating ditches, and there is no investment which assures larger or more permanent returns"
 The foregoing statements are not exaggerated; in fact, they fall short of doing justice to this derful land. Pineapples, dates, almonds and wal nuts will do we'll Strawberries, raspberriss, black berries entrants, gooseberriss and all varieties of small fruits be successfully cultivated. Indeed Yuma County is not only the natural home of the citrus and semi-tropicaI fruits, as almost every fruit, nut plant, grain, grass or vegetabls which eau be produced in either tropic or temperate zcne will thrive in it's rich and fertile soils. ARIZONA.