The Arizona sentinel., 1899-03-25
FRUIT CULTURE.

1 Frait production throughout Arizona is sub doubt, be the principal industry in Yuma County The remarkable results that have sprung from very superficial and imperfect culture has de- monstratcd that the soil and climate of Yuma County peculiarly adapted for this branch oi 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, tbe most skept- ical, oft,, Underful superiority of Yuma County over Southern California in fruit growing, and which must lead to G large and varied production, of the most remunerative character.
 The Co missioner of Immigration in his report, published in 8S6, writes follows of the rich v;lle, of the Gila. Colorado and Calt rivers
 'The soil of these valleys is among the richest or 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 ,xtreme fertility, Near tn. streams it is dark alluval mold, well 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 in any part of the United States. So rapid and prolific is the growth of the ruits cereals and vegetables that the labor of the cultivator is reduced to the minimum. Ir nearly all of them two crops year can be growth and vegetation is month ahead Of California. The farmers plants cottonwood saplng before his door, and within the year he has @ shade tree twenty-five feet highl Alfalfa can be cut six times during the season, and it is actual fact the grape-cuttings have produced within eigh teen months! What State or Territory can make such a showing? The climate, it must be remem- bered, is nearly perpetual summer. Snow never falls in these southern valleys. The farmer begins to plant iu November, and by the middle of May lis harvest is ready. Roses are in bloom, fruit trees blossoming, and the grair fields are sea of green, when the fields of the Eastern farmers are covered with SHOW and ice.
 Every variety grains grasses, fruits and vege tables grown in the temperate and scmi-trOpic zones can be produced in the valleys of Aizona Wheat, corn barley, oats ard all the smaii 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 in the United States can be grown iD 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 sugarcane, but little attention is paid to the culti 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 Ar2ona for it is on record that when the Europeans first penetrated this region, they found the Pima Indians wearing fabrics made Of o,tton grown ia the Giia valley.
 "But it is their adaptabilty for fruit culture that assures to these valley lands dense popula- tion and aprosperous future. Almost every var ioty known be raised in their fruitful soils. The apple, pear, plum, peech, apricot, qUinco and nee tarinc, of delicious flavor, and give gen eroUs yield. The grape of all varieties ia home In these sunny ,ales No place ill the grape grow ins belt Of the Pacific Coast can show so prolific yield. Tine quality is all that could be desired; and the wine, although it's manufacture is yet ex- porimental is Of g fine flavor, delicious bouquet: and uls lrrssscci b, am native mnduct as a ablo