The Arizona sentinel., 1901-03-13

The following report from the direc- ter of the experint station, is published as giving 8 fair resume of the conclu- siCns which have heen reached in re- gard to agriculture in this territory:
 One of the most stencouraging signs Of the times in connections with A:;zcna iS the growth Cf her agricultural interests. These interests. by creating settled population and certain sources Of wealth, insure the Territory as a whole against these 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 whcn the actual amount and prcduc-iFcnesS Of these lands k considered. the place cf agriculture aIacrg the industries Of the Territory k very important. Arizona has and always will have IaLd in excess Of the water supply available for irrigation. without which agriculture can. excepting in racc instances. hardly he considered. Odt of about 72.S090G0 acres in the Territory only 570)O00 acres are privately owned. Of which abCUt 45G000 acres are under irrigation ditch. Fer the total amount Of land under ditch. there ie not sufficient water in all iaS,ances 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 Avizona. as k usual with the soi.> of arid regions. are rich in the elements of fertili ty. requiring only the eyer-needful water. skill and industry in their management to se:sIe abundant returns. The fertility of cultivated soils in irrigated regions is further assured by the depo>ioe Of silt brought upon the land with irrigation water. The problems of fertilization. which become 90 serious fu humid sections. gre therefore of much lcss importance nero and rot to be SO carefully rcc5oned with in connection with the future cf OUT agriculture.
 The most marked advantage in connection with agriculture and horliculture, especially in southern Arizona. is the climate. From JaruaTy to June the temperature resembles that of spring and early summer ia inc latitude Of Ken lucky. ! rom June to September the climate is of sub.ropical fervor. whiic from September to November there iS a second mild season cf to,c- pcratc weather. The winter season. from Nov olnber to January tho: gh SuUec; to sharp froSts in southern Arizona, is ret seriously or even uncomfortably cold.
 Owing to this combination Of seasons a rc- ma.'.able variety cf crops may bo found in tho same locality at different times of the year Strawberries. which flourish ia Greenland may be found on the same lend with dates and palms from Sahara. A!fa,fa. the great forage of the arid West fouyishcs alongside with wheat corn. and sorghum. respectively charactecjstic of Minqcsota. Illinois and Kansas. Oranges lemons. and olives from California may be found in the same ncighoorhood 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 tcO arid atmosphere CT by the froSts of winter flourish in southern Arizona. In northern Ari- zoua. where the temperature, mere resemble those Of northern Illinois, many Of the more dis tinctiyely tc,nperate-region crops flourish, such as potatoes apples. and varols small frGi,S.
 When. with this diversity of products is coupled hc1lthfUl and for the most of the year agreeable, climate, it will he seen that agricu!- tur2l in AriZo22 possesses distinct advantages.