The Arizona sentinel., 1899-12-02
FRUIT CULTURE.


 Fruit production throughout Arizona is Q sub ject 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- 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 tracting 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, oft13 ondeIful superiority of Yuma County over Southern California in fruit growing, and which must lead to 8 large and varied production, of the most remunerative character.
 The Con missioner of Immigration in his report, published in 1886, writes as follows of the rich valley of the Gila, Colorado and Gait rivers
 ''The soil of these 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 journe to the sea- By constant overfiows and change of channel, the deposit of this rich vegetable matter has form ed soil of ,Xtreme fertility Near ths streams it is dark Glluvial 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 apacity 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 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 g. cottonwood sapling before his door, and within the year he has shade tree twenty-five feet highi Alfalfa can bC cut six times during the season, and it is actua fact the grapecuttings have produced within eigh teen months! What State or Territory make such showing? The climate, it must be remem bered, is nearly perpetual summer Snow neve1 falls in these southern valleys. The farmer begin to plant in November, and by the middle of May lis harvest is ready Roses are in bloom, frui trees are blossoming, and the grain fields Sc; of green, when the fields of the Eastern farmer are covered with and ice.
 Every variety grains. grasses, fruits and vege tables grown in the temperate and semi-gropi zones can be produced in the valleys of Alizona Wheat, corn barley, oats ard all the small grain give yield of from twenty-five to fifty bushels t the acre. Alfalfa, clover, timothy, Bermuda an, all the cultivated grasses grow luxuriantly, tn former giving from eight to ten tons to the acr each year, Every variety of vegetable raised il the United States can be grown ip Arizona, an' nowhere are they found better quality.
 "Besides the products mentioned, these semi tropical valleys produce cotton, sugar-cane, to bacco, hemp and rice. With the exception of tn sugarcane but little attention is paid to the cult yation of other staples but it has been demonstra ed that the soil and climate are specially adapte to their successful growth. Cotton-growing is n experiment. in Arizona, for it is on record tha when the Europeans first penetrated this regior they found the Pima Indians wearing fabric made of eaton grown in the Gila valley.
 ''Bui it is their adaptabillty for fruit cultur that assures to these valley lands a dense popula tion and aprosperous future. Almost every val ety known can be raised in their fruitful soils. Tn apple, pear, plum, peach, apricot, quince and ne' tarine, are of delicious favor and give ger erous yield. The grape of all varieties isa hOm in these sunny wales. No place in the grape-grov ing belt of the Pacific Coast can show prolific yield. The quality is all that could be desired and the wine, although it's manufacture is yet e perimenta. is of fine flavor, delicious bouque and uns lrpGssed by any native product tab beverage. Experiments with the rasin-graI have shown that this climate and soil posse every advantage for the production and curing this staple article of commerce.
 ''Besides the fruits already mentioned, tho O ange, lemon, lime, olive, fig, pomegranate, an others of the citrus family, can be grown succes fully in the valleys of Southern Arizona. Orang trees are now in bearing in the Salt River valle and at Yuma; while the bananas is also being GU tivated at the latter place. The Arizona orange quality and flavor will compare favorably with th best California.
 ''in the valleys of the Colorado, the Salt and tn Gila rivers, there is room for thousands. It is nc too much to say that nowhere within the limits this broad Union can be found more desirabl region for the making of home. No laborioU clearing of the land is required; it lies almo ready for the plow. Trees and shrubbery have S rapid growth that within eighteen months tl immigrant can surround his abode with attraction which would require years to mature in less iayore s climates Fruits ripen and are ready for markC a full month before the California product. I'll bright sunshine makes life luxury, and the pur dry atmosphere brings health to all who inhale ! For the establishment of colonies, such as we hay made of Southern California arden, Arizor presents unrivaed opportunities Thousands acres, now proftless, be made productiy by Ae construction of irrgating ditches, and the1 is no investment which assures larger or mol permanent returns
 LANDS AND SOILS.