The Arizona sentinel. [volume] (Arizona City [Yuma], Yuma County, A.T. [Ariz.]) 1872-1911, 1898-09-10
FRUIT CULTURE.

Fruit production throughout Arizona is sub
iect 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 are peculiarly adapted for this branch of
agricultural enterprise. The development of these
! resources is of the utmost Importance and is at
tracing 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, the most skept-
zeal, of tn. wonderful superiority of Yuma County
over Southern California in fruit growing, and
which must lead to large and varied production,
of the most remunerative character
The commissioner OF Immigration in his report,
published III 1886, writes follows of the rich
valley OF the ella, Colorado and salt rivers.
'The soil of these valleys is among the richest
on the continent. 1t IS formed of the detrtus
which the streams for ages have brought down
from their mountain homes 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 tn, streams il
is dark alluvial mold, we'll adapted to small
grains and grasses. Farther back there is rrii
sandy loan, mellow and porous, and especially
favorable for fruit culture. 1t 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
that the labor 81 the cultvatOr is reduced to the
minimum. Ir nearly all of them two crops year
can be growth, and vegetation is month ahead
of California. The farmers plants 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 actual
fact the grapc-cuttings have produced within eigh-
teen months, What state or Territory can make
such a showing: The climate, it must be remcm-
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
lis harvest is ready. Roses are in bloom fruit
trees are blOssoming, and the grain fields are sea
of green, when the fields of the Eastern farmers
arc covered with snow and ice.
Every variety o grains, grasses fruits and vcgc-
tables grown i'll the temperate and scmi-tropic
zones can be produced in the valleys of Arizona.
Wheat, corn barley, oats and all tho 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. cane, to-
bacco, hemp and rice With the exception of the
sugarcane but little attention. is paid to the cult
walton of other staples but it has been demOnstrat
cd that the soil and climate specially adapted
to their successful growth. Cotton growing is no
experiment i'll Arizona, for it is OH record that
when the Europeans first penetrated this region,
they found the Pima Indians wearing fabrics
made of cotton grown in the ella valley.
''Buj it is their adaptahilIty for fruit culture
that assures to these valley lands dense popula
ton and aprosperous future. Almost every var
ety known can be raised in their fruitful soils. The
apple pear plum, peach, apricot, ounce and nee
tarine, are of delicious flavor, and give gen
erous yield. The grape of all varieties isa home
in these sunny wales. No pf&ce i'll the grape-grow'
ing belt of the Pacific Coast show prolific
yield, The quality is all that could be desired;
and the wine although its manufacture is vet eX-
Pcrmental is of fine flavor, delicious bouquet, !
and uns Irpassed By any native produces ss table