The Arizona sentinel., 1899-11-11
FRUIT CULTURE.

FRUIT CULTURE. Fruit production throughout Arizona is a sub 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, tbe most skept 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 rsmunerative character.
 The Commissioner of Immigration in his report, published in 's5o, 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 journes to the | sea. By constant overiows and change of channel,
 
 ed soil of extreme 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 a year can be growth, and vegetation is one month ahead l of California. The farmers plants a cottonwood sapng beforeh his door, and within the year he ha, shade tree twenty-five feet high! Alfalfa can bt cut six times during the season, and it is actua fact the grape-cuttings have produced within eigh 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 his harvest is ready. Roses are in bloom, frui trees are blossoming and the grain fields re 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 | IOHSS Sdu O6 pEOuHCSu III N3ISy5 OI ALlZOHh Wheat, corn barley oats and all the small grain give yield of from twenty-five to fifty bushels t. the acre. Alfalfa, clover, timothy, Bermuda anC 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 iD Arizona, ant 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 sugsrcane but little attention is paid to the culti vation of other staples but it has been demonstrat ed that the soil and climate specially adapte' to their successful growth. Cotton growing is m 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 c1tton grown In the Gila valley.
 "But iIis their adaptability for fruit cultur that assures to these valley lands dense popula tion and aprosperous future. Almost every var iety known be raised in their fruitful sols Tn apple, pear, plum, peach, apricot, quince and nee tarine, are of delicious flavor, and give gen erous yield. The grape of all varieties isa hom In these sunny vales. 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, althoughits manufacture is yet ex perimental. is of fine flavor, delicious bouquet and uns lrpassed by any native product as 8 tabl beverage. Experiments with the raisin-grap have shown that this climate and soil posses every advantage for the production and curing o this staple article of commerce.
 "Besdes the fruits already mentioned, the or ange, lemon, lime, olive, fig. pomegranate, ant others of the citrus family, can be grown 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 Iquality and flavor will compare favoraby with tht best California.
 "In the valleys of the Colorado, the Salt and thC Gila rivers, there is room for thousands. It Is no too much to say that nowhere within the limits o this broad Union can 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 SC l rapid growth that within eighteen months the immigrant can surround his abode with attraction: which would require years to mature in less favored | climates. Fruits ripen and are ready for market a full month before the California product. The bright sunshine makes life luxury, and the pure dry atmosphere brings health to all who inhae It. For the establishment of colonies, such as we have made of Southern California arden, Arizona | presents unrivaled opportunities Thousands ot acres, prohtless, be made productive | by construction of irrigating dtches and there | Is no investment which assures larger or more permanent returns"