The Arizona sentinel., 1898-04-16
FRUIT CULTURE.

Fruit production throughout Arizona is a sub
 jcct great interest at present, and VIII no
 doubt, be the principal industry in Yuma County.
 The remarkable results that have sprung from
 very superficial and imperfect culture has de-
 mousJrated 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
 ,r1ojlug car..ul attention. Experiments have been made with care, and facts in regard to She culture
 Jf different kinds of fruits have been collected
 which cannot fail to convince, even tbe most skept- ieal, ofthe wonderful superiority of Yuma County over southern California in fruit growing, and
 which must lead to a large and varied production, of 5hc most reuuucratiye character
 The Co missioner of Immigration in his report, published ill 'ssG, writes as follows of the rich valleys of the Gila, Colorado and calt rivers.
 The soil of these valleys is among the richest on the continent. 1t is formed of the detritus which the streams for ages have brought down from their mountain homes in their journey to the sea. By coustGs oVoriows and change of channel. the depo5 of this rich vegetable matter has form cI soil of ,z5rcme fertility, Near ths. streams it is dark a,avial mold, well adapted to small grains and grasses. Farther back there is a rich sandy loan., mellow and porous and especially L-vog ble for tslia culture. It has been already demonstrated that the productive capacity cf these valleys is not surpassed by lanIs of equal area in any part of the United States So rapid and prolific is the growth of the fruits cereals and vegetables taat the labor yt the cul5,ator is reduced to the minimum. ln nearly all of them two crops Q year can be growth. and vegetation is one month ahead Of California. The farmers plants cottonwood
 aplns before his door, and within the year he has a shade tree twenty-five feet hi-h Alfalfa can be cut slX times during the sals5n and it is an actual
 fact the grapecuttings have produced within eigh- teen months! What State or Territory can make such a showing. The climate, i5 must be rcmenI- he.od is nearly perpetual summer. Snow never falls in these southern valleys The farmer begins to plan. i4 November, and by the middle of May .is har,ost is ready. Roses are in bloom, fruit trees are Lossouling, and the grain iells are sea Of green, when the fields of the Eastern farmers are covered with snow and ice.
 Every variety grains grasses, fruits and vcgc- tables grown in tine temperate and semj-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 ,he acre. Alfalfa, clover timothy, Bermuda and all the cultivated grasses grow luxuriantIy, 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- hacco, hemp and rice With the exception of the surar-canc, but little attention is paid to the culti vaton of other staples: but it has been demoustrat cd that the soil and climate are specially adapted to their successful growth. ton-srowing 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 aIaptabilty for fruit culture that assures to these valley lands dense popula- ion and aprosperous future. Almost every var ety known can be raised in their fruitful soils. The ,pple pear, plum, peach, apricot, quince and nee arine are of delicious hayort and give gen 9rous yield. The grape of all varieties is home n these sunny yalcs. No place in the grape-grow ng belt of the Pacific Coast can show prolific 8 'ic.d, The quality i, all that could be desired; ! md the 8inc aIthou-lits manufacture is vet eN- | perrin arra'. i- of fine flavor, delicious bouquet ! md ms lrD-sscl by any native g.odIe. as at9hlc