The Arizona sentinel., 1898-03-19
FRUIT CULTURE.

Fruit production throughout Arizona is a sub 1 ject O great interest at present, aDd will no doubt, be the principal industry in Yuma County. The remarkable results that have sprung frem very superficial and imperfect culture has de
 monstrated thai the soil and climate Of Yuma
 County are peculiarly adapted for this branch of agricultural entorp~ist. The development Of these
 resources is of the utmost importance and is at-
 tractiug careinl 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, 1.-the wonderful superiority of Yuma County
 over Southern California in fruit growing, and
 which must lead to a large and varied production, 1 of the most reInunerative character.
 The Co missioner of immigration In his report, published ill 886, writes as follows of the rich
 va!leY' of the Gila, Colorado and Calt rivers.
 The soil of these valleys is among the richest on the continent. It 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 overfows and change Of channel, the deposit of this rich vegetable matter has form ed soil of Extreme fertility, Near thu streams it is a dark aluvial mold, we'll 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 area in any part of the United States So rapid and prolific Is the growth of the fruts cereals and vegetables that the labor the cultivator is reduced to the minimum. in nearly all of them two crops . year can be growth, and vegetation is one month ahead Of California. The farmers plants @ cottonwood saplng before his door and within the year he has shade tree twenty-five feet hirh! Alfalfa can be cut six times during the season, and 1t is actual fact the gr2pe-cuttings have produced within eigh- teen moutns What State or Territory can make such 6 showing? The climate, it must be remem- bered, is nearly perpetual summer. Snow never fall, in these southern valleys. The farmer begins to plant in November, and by the middle of May is harvest is ready. Roses are n bloom fruit trees are blossoming, and the grair fields are sea ot 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 iu the United States can be grown in Arizona, and nowhere are they found of better quality.
 Besides the produces mentioned, these semi tropical valleys produce cotton, sugar-cane, to- bacco. hemp and rice. With the exception of the sugarcano, but little attention is paid to the cult vaton of other staples but it has been demonstrat ed that the soil and climate specially adapted to their successful growth. Cotton growing is no experiment. in Arizona, for it 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 adaptabihty for fruit culture that assures to these valley lands dense popula tion and aprosperous future. Almost every var iety known can be raised in their fruitful soils. The apple pear, plum, peach, apricot, quince and nee tarine, are of delicious flavor, and give gen. erous yield. The grape of all varieties isa home In these sunny wales. No place in the grape-grow- ing belt of the Pacific Coast show so prolific yield. The quality is all that could be desired; | and the wine although it's manufacture is yet eN- is of fine faycr, delicious bouquet, ! and unsurpassed by any native product as a table