The Arizona sentinel., 1898-07-02
LANDS AND SOILS,

1 The lands of Yuma County comprise the river
 bottoms and valleys and the uplands or 1nesas The bottom ands moister and slightly mere fertile
 f indeed, it is possible to make comparisons
 where all are so wonderfully productive and prolific
 The uplands or mesas are warmer and, perhaps,
 lightly for betterEe cultivation of the citrus fruits
 Yuma cOntainsa variety of soil The valley land
 of thel Gila and Colorado rivers have o1 the most 1 part deep sedimentary soil of brownish, gray | sandy lOam, resting, in most places upon gray clay subsoil at q depth of from ten to twenty feet below the surface, The clay subsoil forms hard pan which is impervious to water These soils have been slowly formed by the decomposition of shales sandstones, marls imestones, etc, mixed with or ganic and vegetable matter, washed down by the mighty rivers and have been gradually deposited during the course of centuries. The fertiizing ! brownish mud held in the wat Clof the Colorado and Gila rivers resembles that from the Nile, and its quantity varies from O.1 to O.5 per cent, though the water when even considerably dscolor- ed by mud is good to drink, resembling in this res pect the Missouri river water chemical analysis of the sediments of the Colorado and of the Nile exhibits wonderful similarity in the constituent parts of each. That of the Colorado exhibiting a trife less potassa, most phosphoric acid and car bonade of limestone beds through which the Colo rado passrs. In other respects the sediment of the Colorado is almost identical with tbat of the Nile It will be noticed therefore, that when a'l-s water y used for irrigation it is suposar -g ar.-aa waters since it is constantly supp, ing the fam. u5.r .r1 richestfertilizng elements. The s. af the yafr.r. is extremely rich in dcdomI f .s-s--lr. matter and uncomtmed carbon, .r ..-u.uf.. r.,. aerial gases such especially, s a1...-. ...-.. ..
 tering the soil, dccomposes t. al..-.. ...+-s- .. that they can be taken up an ...r... t... plants which may be considered a '.-lt.. F.a..rr. .. 2. fertility. It also readily t. .r a.. moisture, while the frnncss {, sr.-.... affords eyery tacility for pcrc9lation .a. re .-ir.-. .. capillary action. Inits mccb.... ...... ..... j.. particles gre in a state of very fine division which renders it more productive t.a ... acIuirics heat readily in the das r-. and -..f.
 of the heat it night is very cI u. ...#..
 mains always warm and f5 n5 ... ...
 changes of heat and cold. Eesid #. as...-f.. con. stjtucuts Of water, organic or ..a ..Hr. r .... sand and clay, chemical andy ....- -... I.a.. soda, msguesia, iron, ammcnas -a.'
 Of nitrogen, pho5phoric scid and h e...r ... composition in the proportion .- .. add to its fertility, though Of c..r.. .s s. ale the case ill soil analysis, it's composite. ..r.. .. different localities and Is not aIr,. .....r.
 The soi the uplaads, or mesa. uH-
 more graTelly and in some places Of ,rcc, Ioamy, calcarcous character. The mesa lands arc warm and generous. They seem especially adapted for the grape olive and citrus fruits generally Their soil contains more magnesia, lime or chalk than the bottom lands It never 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 sour, or on exposure to the air. after one year old to become turbid and change color ill the bottle or glass.