The Arizona sentinel., 1899-09-09
FRUIT CULTURE.


 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- 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 careful 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 mostskept- ical, oftbs 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 in 1888, writes as follows of the rich valley 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 overflows 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 rich sandy foam, mellow and porous, and especially favorable for fruit culture. It has been already demonstrated that the productive apacita 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 cutivator is reduced to the | minimum. Tn nearly all of them two crops year | can be growth, and vegetation is one month ahead | of California. The farmers plants a cottonwood sapling before his door, and within the year he has shade tree twenty-five feet highl Alfalfa be cut six times during the season, and it is actual fact the grape-cuttings have produced within eigh- l teen months! What State or Territory can make such showing? The climate, it must be remem- bered is nearly perpetual summer. Snow never falls in these southern valleys The farmer begins to plant in November, and by the middle of May lis harvest is ready. Roses are in bloom, fruit trees are bossoming, and the grain fields sea of 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 ard 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 ill 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- | bacco, hemp and rice. With the exception of the sugarcan 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 adapted to their successful growth. Cotton-growing is nc 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.
 ''Bu5 it is their adaptabiIty for fruit culture that assures to these valley lands dense popula- tion and aprosperous future Almost every var iety known be raised in their fruitful soils The apple, pear, plum, peach, apricot, quince and nee tarine, 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 can show so prolific yield. The quality is all that could be desired and the wine, although it's manufacture is yet ex | perimental, is of fine flavor, delicious bouquet and uns lrpassed by any native product as table ! beverage. Experiments with the raisin- grape have shown that this climate and soil possess every advantage for the production and curing ol this staple article of commerce.
 "Besdes the fruits already mentioned, the or. ange, lemon, lime, olive, fig, pomegranate, and 1 others of the citrus family, be grown success | fully in the valleys of Southern Arizona Orange l trees in bearing in the Salt River valley and at Yuma; while the bananas is also being cul. tivated at the latter place. The Arizona orange in quality and flavor will compare favorably with the l best California.
 ''In the valleys of the Colorado the Salt and the Gila rivers, there is room for thousands 1t is not too much to say that nowhere within the limits of this broad Union be found more desirable region for the making of home No laborious clearing of the land is required; it lies almost | ready for the blow. Trees and shrubbery have so rapid growth that within eighteen months the immigrant can surround his abode with attractions which would require years to mature in less favored climates. Fruits ripen and are ready for market full month before the California product. The bright sunshine makes life luxury, and the pure, dry atmosphere brings health to all who inhaIe It. For the establishment of colonies, such as we have made of Southern California a arden, Arizona presents unrvaled opportunities Thousands of acres, now proitless, can be made productive by Ae construction of irrigating dtches and there is no investment which assures larger or more permanent returns"