The Arizona sentinel., 1900-02-21
FRUIT CULTURE.

EtbDtI CULIO NE.
 Fruit production throughout Arizona is a sub ieet great interest at present, ard will no doubt, be the principal industry in Yuma County. The remarkable results that have sprung from very superficial and impoTfect culture has de- inonstrated 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 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 most skept ical, oft63 ondcrful superiority of Yuma County over Southern California in fruit growing, and which must lead to large and varied pyoduction of the most remuncrative character.
 The Commissioner of Immigration in his report published in isS6, writes as follows of the rich l 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 iourneg to the sea. By constant oyerhows and change Of channel, the deposit of this rich vegetable matter has form ed soil of ,xtremc fertility, Near ths streams it i is a dark Glluvial 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 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 red1ced to the minimum. in nearly all of them two crops year can be growth, and vegetation is one month ahead l of California. The farmers plants cottonwood saplng before his door, and within the year he has shade tree twenty-five feet hiqh! 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 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 in bloom frui trees are blossoming, and the grain fields a 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 segliryopiC 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, aud 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 tho sugarcane, but little attention is paid to the euti vaon of other staples; but it has been demonstrat 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 tha when the Europeans first penetrated this region they found the Pima Indians wearing fabric, made of eaton grown in the Gila valley.
 'BGS it is their adaptabilty for fruit culture that assures to these valley lands dense lopula. tion and apyosperous future. Almost every var iety known be raised in their fruitful soils Int apple, pear, plum, peach, apricot, quince and nee tarine, are of delicious flavor, and give gen erous yield The grape of all varieties is a 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, althoughts manufacture is yet ex perimental, is of fine flavor, delicious bouquet and uns lrPS5sed by any native pI Oduct table beverage. Experiments with the raisin-grapt have shown that this climate and soil posses every advantage for the production and curing C. this staple article of commerce.
 "Besides 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 Orange trees are now 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 r quality and flavor will compare favorably with the | best California.
 "In the valleys of the Colorado, the Salt and the Gila livers there is room for thousands It is not | too much to say that nowhere within the limits of this broad Union can be found a more desirable region for the making of homc No laborious clearing of the land is required; it lies almost ready for the plow. 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 ready for market i a full month before the California product The 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 have made of Southern California arden, Arizona presents unrivaed opportunities Thousands of acres now profitless, can be made productive by Ae construction of rrgating ditches, and there is no investment which assures larger or more permanent returns