The Arizona sentinel., 1898-06-25
LANDS AND SOILS.

The lands Of Yuma County comprise the river bottoms and valleys and the uIlands or mesas The bottom ands moster and slightly mere fertile if indeed, it is possible to make comparisons where all are wonderfully productive and prolific The uplands or mesas are warmer and, perhaps, lightly for better the cultivation the citrus fruits Yuma contains variety of soil The valley land Of thel Gila and Colorado rivers have for the most part deep sedimentary soil of brownish, gray sandy loam resting, in most places, upon gray clay subsoil at depth of from ten to twenty feet below the surface, The clay subscil forms hard pan which is impervious to water These soils have been slowly formed by the decomposition of shales, sandstones marls. limestones, etc. mixed with or ganlc and vegetable matter, washed down by the mighty rivers and have been gradually deposited during the course of centuries. The fertilizing brownish mud held in the wat Clof the Colorado and Gila rivers resembles that from the Nile, and It's quantity varies from O. to O.5 per cent, though the water when even considerably discolor- ed by mud IS good to drink resembling in this res pect the Missouri river water A chemical analysis or the sediments of the Colorado and of the Nile exhibits wonderful similarity in the constituent parts of each. That of the Colorado exhibiting a trite less potassa, most phosphoric acid and car oonade Of limestone beds through which the Colo rado passes In other respects the sediment of the Colorado is almost identical with that of the Nile It will be noticed, therefore that when this water is used for irrigation it is superior to artesan waters since it is constantly supplying the land with the richestfertilizing elements The soil of the valleys IS extremely rich in dedomposed vegetable matter and uncomOined carbon, readily absorbing the aerial gases, such especially as oxygen, which en- terng the soil, decomposes the organic matters so that they can be taken up and nourish the plants whlch may he considered leading feature in 1t fertility. It also readily takes up and retains moisture, while Vhe rmness of its particles affords every facility for percolation and the activity of capillary action. In its mechanical composition its particles are in state of very fine division which renders 1t more productive than coarser soils 1 acquires heat readily in the daytime and the loss of the heat at night very gradual, that it mains always warm and is not subject to sudden changes of heat and cold Besides it's essential con- stituents of water, organic vegetable matter, sand and clay, chemical analysis shows that lime, soda, magnesia, iron, ammonia and available forms of nitrogen, phosphorc acid and potash enter into
 
 add to it's fertility though of course as is always the case in soil analysis it's composition varies ir different localities and is not always constant.
 The soi the uplands, CT mesas, lighter anC more gravelly and in some places of lree, loamy calcareous character. The mesa lands are warm anC generous. They seem especially adapted for tht grape, olive and citrus fruits generally Their soi contains more magnesia, lime or chalk than tn, bottom lands. It never cracks and retains moisture admirably in summer It is of that character whicl will produce wine that will keep good for fifty o hundred years, and improve annually, not being liable to sour, on exposure to the air. after ont year old, to become turbid and change color in th bottle or glass
 WHY IMMIGRANTS SHOULD COME TO YUMA COUNTY. Because the climate is perfect.
 Because the soil is fertile and prolific. Because land is abundant and cheap.
 Because home can be made with little labor.
 Because so great a variety of product can be grown.
 Because the yield is large and the price. always remunerative.
 Because life is Q luxury in land wkerc the sun shines every day.
 Because th,re are chances for q noor mar which he can never hope to find in older countries.
 Because the country is advancing and property values are increasing.
 Because, unlike Southern California if does not require small fortune to secure T piece of land.
 Because capital does not block all the av- enues to wealth, nor crowd the poor man to the wall.
 Because Uncle Sam has yet many farms in Yuma county waiting for occupants.
 Bscause churches, schools, newspapers and railroads are fast developing the moral and material elements of the Territory.
 Because good land is becoming scarce, and if you don't catch on now, your last chance will soon be gone.
 Because the country is one of the few regions of the Uuited States that yields the products of the temperate and semi.tronic zones.
 Because the worker receives a fair com. pensation for his labor, and the hustler, has a field for the display of his energy and en- terprise.
 Because there are neither blizzards or tOrnadoes, earthquakes nor inupdations snow-storrns nor cyclones.
 Because the vast and varied resources Of the country are yet to be developed.
 Because the wealth of it's mines. it's farm. ing valleys, and grazing lands, will vet build up great and prosperorS county.
 Because man can make a livelihood her with less labor than in any other part of the United States.
 Because there is health in every braeza and strength and vigor under it's cIoudIess skies.
 Because the settler neednot spend a life. time in felliag trees and grubbing out 5tuups.
 Because vegetation is 50 rapid that in two years the home is surrounded by a aroz-f6