The Arizona sentinel., 1898-04-30
FRUIT CULTURE.

Fruit production throughout Arizona is q sub ject 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 1 resources IS or the utmost importance and is at
 Jracting carefnl 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, even tbe most skept-
 ical, ofthe 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 Tmmigration in his renort
 published in 1886, writes as follows of the rich
 valleys of the Gila, Colorado and Salt rivers
 'Ihe 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 journey to the
 sea. By constant oyerIows and change Of channel, the deposit of this rich vegetable matter has form
 ed scil of eXtreme fertility, Near the streams # IS dark ailuyial mold, well 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 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. ln nearly all of them two crops a year an, h1 yr-N Nv,-~I and of California The farmers plants a cottonwood 5apng before his door, and within the year he has a shade tree twenty-five feet high! Alfalfa can be cut six times during the season. and it is an actual fact the grape ecuttngs have produced within eigh .oen months! What State or Territory can make | such a showing? The climate, it must be remem- 1ered is nearly perpetual summer. Snow never aiI5 n these southern valleys. The faEmcr begin. o plant in November, and by the middle of May is harvest is ready. Roses are in bloom, fruit rees are blos5oming, and the grain fields are sen 't green, when the fields of the Eastern farmers re covered with snow and ice.
 Every variety grains, grasses, fruits and Yege abes grown in the temperate and emi-tropic ones can be produced in the valleys of Arizona. Wheat, corn barley, oats and all the small grains i've yield of from twenty-five to fifty bushels to he acre. Alfalfa, clover, timothy, Bermuda and Il the cultivated grasses grow Iuxuriantly, the 1rmer giving from eight to ten tons to the acre ach year, Every variety of vegetable raised in he United States can be grown in Arizona, and owhere are they found of better quality.
 Besides the products mentioned, these semi ropical valleys produce cotton, sugar cane, to- acco, hemp and rice. With the exception of the but little attention is paid to the cuti alton of other staples; but it has been demonstrat that the soil and climate specially adapted } their successful growth. Cotton-growing is no a >periment in Arizona, for it is on record that hen the Europeans first penetrated this region, icy found the Pima Indians wearing fabrics ade of cotton grown in the Gila valley. But it is their adaptabillty for fruit culture at assures to these valley lands dense Popula- s on and aI~osperous future. Almost every var d ry known can be raised in their fruitful soils. The ple, pear, plum, peach, apricot, quince and nee rine, are of delicious flavor, and give gen ous yield The grape of all varieties isa home ~ these sunny vales No place in the grape-grow- u 8 belt of the Pacific Coast can show so prolific | cid. The quality is all that could be desired; al d the wine, although it's manufacture is yet ex- rmental, is of fine flavor, delicious bouquet, r q unsurpassed by any native product as ata5le!