The Arizona sentinel., 1901-06-19
ARIZONA. Tier Great ReSourceS---Sp!erdid Soii---Fine Climate.
Agriculture One Of the Important
 Industries of Arizona.
No Fertilization of the Soil Ncces- sary--SiIt Deposited by Frri- gatiOn Renders the Soil
 Rich in the Element
 Of Fertility.
The Climate Conditions Favorable to a Great
 Variety of Marketable Produce.

The following report from the direc- tor of experiment. station. Is published aS giving fair resume of the conClu- siOnS which have heen reached in re- gard to agriculture in this territory: 1 One Of the most encouraging signs cf the times l 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 Q whole, against those excessive fluctuations in popula- ton and finance which gre so often observed in 1 purely mining communities Although but 3
 small percentage of the tot;l S.rca ef Arizona is under cultivation, yet when the actual amount l and ;roductivcress Cf 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 or the water l supply available for irrigation, without which agriculture can, excepting in rare instances, hardly be considered. Out of about 72,800,O00 1 acres in the Territory only 5,700.000 acres are privately owned. of which about 45O,O00 acres are under irrigation ditch. For the total amount of land under ditch. there is not sufficient water in a4l 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 gcod. 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. as is usual with the soils 0f arid regions, are rich in the clements Of fertil ty, requiring only the eVer-ncedful water, skill and industry in their management to secure abundant returns The fertility of cultivated
 soils ill irrigated regions is further assured by the depoSite of silt brought upon the land with irrigation water. The problems of offertAization, which become so serious in humid sections. are 1 therefore of much less importance here and not to be so carefully reckOncd 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 tEere is q second mild season Of tenn perate weather. The winter season, from Nov ember to January, though subject 10 sharp fTostS in southern Arizona, is rot seriously CT even l unconforsab!y ccid.
 Owing to ;l:S combination of seasons rC markable variety Of crops may Dc found in the same locality at different times of the year. Strawberries, which flourish in Greenland nay
 bc found on tlc same land wi;h dates and palms
 from Sahara. Alfa.fa. the great forage or the arid West, fourisheS alongside with wheat, corn, and sorghum, respectively characteristic of Minnesota. Illinois, and Kansas. Oranges, 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
 a 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 moro dis
 tinctiVely temperate-regi0p crops flourish, such
 as potGtoeS, apples, ,.and various small fruits.
 When, with tlIS 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.