The Arizona sentinel., 1899-09-23
FRUIT CULTURE.

Fruit production throughout Arizona is Q sub iect 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 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 kept ical, ofthe Onderful superiority of Yuma County over Southern California in fruit growing, and which must lead to a large and varied production, the most remuDeratiye character.
 The Commissioner Of Immigration in his report, published in 1886, writes as follows of the rich valley of the Gila, Colorado and Salt rivers
 'Ihe soil of these valleys is among the richest on the continent. It is formed of the detritus which thestreams for ages have brought down from their mountain homes in their journeg to the sea. By constant overaows and change Of channel, the deposit of this rich vegetable matter has form l is a dark alluyial 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 fruts cereals and vegetables that the labor of the cutivator is reduced to the minimum. Ir nearly all of them two crops a year can be growth, and vegetation is one month ahead l of California. The farmers plants a cottonwood sapling beforehis door, and within the year he has a shade tree twenty-five feet high. Alfalfa can be cut six times during the season. and it is actual fact the grape cuttings have produced within egh | teen months. What State CT 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 blos5oming, and the grain fields a ssa 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 semilropiC 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 tC the acre. Alfalfa, clover, timothy, Bermuda ana all the cultivated grasses grow luxuriantly, tho former giving from eight to ten tons to the acre each year, Every variety of vegetable raised il the United States can be grown ip Arizona, anC nowhere are they found of better quality
 ''Besides the products mentioned, these semi ] tropical valleys produce cotton, sugarcane to- bacco, hemp and rice With the exception of th, sugarcaue, but little attention is paid to the euIti vaton of other staples; but it has been demonstrat ed that the soil and climate are specially adapted to their successful growth. Cotton growing is nt experiment in Arizona, for it is on record tha when the Europeans first penetrated this region they found the Pima Indians wearing fabric made of cotton grown in the Gila valley.
 ''Bu5 it is their adaptabihty for fruit cultur tha5 assures to these valley lands a dense popula ton and aprosperous future. Almost every var iety known can be raised in their fruitful soils. Th apple, pear, plum, peach, apricot, quince and nee tarine, are of delicious flavor, and give gen orous yield. The grape of all varieties isa hom 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 vet ex perimental, is Of fine flavor, delicious bouquet and uns Irp2ssed by any native product as a tab ! beverage. Experiments with the raSin- grap have shown that this climate and soil posses every advantage for the production and curing 0 this staple article of commerce.
 ''Besides the fruits already mentioned, the or ange, lemon, lime, olive, fig, pomegranate, an, others of the citrus familv can be crown success 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 cul tivated at the latter place. The Arizona orange il quality and flavor will compare favorably with tn best California.
 ''In the valleys of the Colorado, the Salt and tn Gia Iivers, there is room for thousands. It is no teo much to say that nowhere within the limits O this broad Union can be found more desirable region for the making of a home No laboriou clearing of the land is required: it lies almos ready for the pow. Trees and shrubbery have s rapid a growth that within eighteen months tn immigrant can surround his abode with attractions which would require years to mature in less ayore, climates. Fruits ripen and ready for marke a full month before the California product I'm bright sunshine makes life luxury' and the pure dry atmosphere brings health to all who inhale It For the establishment of colonies, such as we havt made of Southern California arden, Arizon; presents unrivaled opportunities Thousands O acres, now proftless, can be made productive by construction Of irrigating ditches, and there is no investment which assures larger or more permanent returns"