The Arizona sentinel., 1899-09-02
EEIIT CELTI RE.

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- nonstrated 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- tracing 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, tbe most skept ical, oft5s onderful superiority of Yuma County over Southern California in fruit growing, and which must lead to a large and varied production, of the most remunerative character.
 The Commissioner of Immigration in his report, published ill 1886, writes as follows of the rich yalle, of the Gila Colorado and Salt 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 journey to the sea- By constant orerlows and change of channel, the deposit of this rich vegetable matter has form ed soil of extreme fertility Near ths streams it is dark alluvial mold, well adapted to small grains and grasses. Farther back there is Q 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 vegetable: that the labor of the cultiyator is reduced to thC minimum. ln nearly all of them two crops a year can be growth, and vegetation is one month aheaC of California. The farmers plants cottonwood sapling before his door, and within the year he ha shade tree twenty-five feet high! Alfalfa can b' cut six times during the season, and it is an actua fact the grape-cutt;ngs have produced within eigh teen monthsl What State or Territory can mak' such a showing? The climate, it must be remem bercd, is nearly perpetual summer. Snow neve falls in these southern valleys. The farmer begin to plant in November, and by the middle of Ma! lis harvest is ready. Roses are in bloom, frui trees are blossomng, and the grain fields are a Sc; of green, when the fields of the Eastern farmer are covered with snow and ice.
 Every variety grains grasses, fruits and vege tables grown in the temperate and semi -tropi zones can be produced in the valleys of Arizona Wheat, corn barley, oats ard all the small grain give yield of from twenty-five to fifty bushels the acre. Alfalfa, clover, timothy, Bermuda am all the cultivated grasses grow luXuriantly, tn former giving from eight to ten tons to the acr each year, Every variety of vegetable raised i the United States can be grown ip Arizona, an nowhere are they found of better quality.
 ''Besides the products mentioned, these semi tropical valleys produce cotton, sugar-cane, to bacco, hemp and rice With the exception of tn sgar-cane but little attention is paid to the cult vation 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 regioI they found the Pima Indians wearing fabric made of e tton grown in the Cila valley.
 ''But it is their adsptabiIty for fruit cultu1 that assures to these valley lands a dense popula ton and aprosperous future. Almost every va iety known can be raised in their fruitful soils. I'll apple, pear. plum, peach, apricot, quince and ne tarine, are of delicious flavor, and give gel
 erous yield. The grape of all varieties isa hon
 in these sunny vaes. No place in the grape-grov
 ing belt of the Pacific Coast show prolific yield. The quality is all that could be desiret
 and the wine, although it's manufacture is yet e. perimeItal, is of fine flavor, delicious bouque
 and uns Irpa5sed by any native product tab
 beverage. Experiments with the raisin-gral have shewn 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, fg, pomegranate, al others of the citrus family, can be grown success fully in the valleys of Southern Arizona. Orans trees are now in bearing in the Salt River vallt and at Yuma; while the bananas is also being GU
 tivated at the latter place. The Arizona orange
 quality and flavor will compare fayorably with u
 best California.
 'IR the valleys of the Colorado, the Salt and u
 Gila rivers, there is room for thousands. It is n
 too much to say that nowhere within the limits
 this broad Union can be found more desirab
 region for the making of home. No laborio,
 clearing of the land is required; it lies almo Q ready for the blow. Trees and sfrubbery have
 rapid growth that within eighteen months u
 immigrant can surround his abode with attraction which would require years to mature in less favor,
 climates. Fruits ripen and ready for mark S a full month before the California product. IT
 bright sunshine makes life luxury, and the pur
 dry atmosphere brings health to all who inhaIe For the establishment of colonies such as we ha,
 made Of Southern California a arden, Arizo1 l presents unrivaled opportunities Thousands r acres, now proftless, can be made producti7
 by ho construction of irrigating dtches and the is no investment which assures larger or mo ! permanent returns"