The Arizona sentinel., 1901-02-13
ARIZONA.
Her Great Resources=--Splendid
 SoiI---Fine Climate.
Agriculture One of the Important
 Industries of Arizona.
No Fertilization of the Soil NeCes- sary--Silt Deposited by Erri- gation Renders the Soil
 Rich in the Element
 of Fertility.
The Climate Conditions Favorable to Great
 Variety of Marketable Produce.

The following report from the direc- tor of the experint station, is published
 as giving a fair resume of the conclu- sions which have heen reached in re-
 gard to agriculture in this territory: One of the most encouraging signs of the times
 in connections with Arizona is the growth of
 her agricultural interests. These interests, by creating settled population and certain sources ! of wealth, insure the Territory as whole,
 against those excessive fluctuations in popula- tion and finance which are so often observed in purely mining communities. Although but a
 small percentage of the total area of Arizona is
 under cultivation, yet when the actual amount and productiyeness of these lands is considered, the place of agriculture among the industries
 of the Territory is very important. Arizona has | and always will have land in excess of the water supply available for irrigation, without which agriculture can, excepting in rare instances, hardly be considered. Out of about 72,S0O,0O0 ! acres in the Territory only 5,7OO,OOO acres are privately owned. of which about 45O,000 acres | are under irrigation ditch. For the total amount of land under ditch, there is not sufficient water in all instances to insure cropS but in time
 there can be little doubt that the storage and development of water will lead to the successful irrigation of much more than the area under ditch.
 The future of agriculture in Arizona is, with
 out question, more than usually good, and for
 the reason that the conditions of soil irrigation
 and climate combine to produce an uncommon variety and amount of marketable produce.
 The soil of Arizona, is usual with the soils of arid regions, are rich in the elements of fertili- ty. requiring only the ever-needful water, skill, and industry in their management to secure abundant returns The fertility of cultivated soils in irrigated regions is further assured by the deposite of silt brought upon the land with irrigation water. The problems of fertilization, which become so serious in humid sections, are | therefore of much less importance here and not to be so carefully reckOned with in connection with the future Of our agriculture.
 The most marked advantage in connection with agriculture and horticulture, especially in southern Arizona, is the climate From January to June the temperature resembles that of spring and early summer in the latitude of Ken ! lucky. From June to September the climate is of Subtropical fervor, while from September to | NoVember there is a second mild season of tenn
 perate weather The winter season, from Nov
 ember to January, though subject to sharp frosts in southern Arizona, is not seriously or even
 uncomfortably cold.
 Owing to this combination of seasons a re-
 marl1able variety of crops may be found in the same locality at different times of the year. Strawberries. which flourish in Greenland, may be found on the same land with dates and palms | from Sahara. Alfalfa, the great forage of the arid West, fouriShes alongside with wheat, | corn. and sorghum, respectively characteristic of Minnesota, Illinois, and Kansas. Oranges, 1 lemons and olives from California may be found in the same neighoorhood with peanuts and sweet potatoes from Virginia. In brief, many of the leading crops of both temperate and sub- tropical countries, which are not affected by
 too arid atmosphere or by the frosts of winter. flourish in southern Arizona. In northern Ari- zona where the temperatures more resemble those of northern Illinois, many of the more dis
 tnctively temperate region crops flourish such
 as potatoes, apples, and various small fruits. When, with this diversity of products is
 coupled healthful, and for the most of the year agreeable, climate. it will be seen that agricul- tural in Arizona possesses distinct advantages.