The Arizona sentinel., 1901-03-27
The Climate Conditions Favorable to Grea
 Variety of Marketable Produce.

The following report from the direc-
 ter of the eXperint station, is published
 as giving fair resume of the cOnclu-
 siCns 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 a settled population and certain sources
 of wealth, insure the Territory. as whole,
 against those excessive fluctuations in popuIa- | 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 prOductiveneSS 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.SOO, GOO
 acres in the Territory only 5,7OO,OOO acres are | privately owned. of which about 45O,OOO 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 GS is usual with the soils of arid regions are rich in the elements of fertli- | ty requiring only the ever-needful water skill. and industry in their management to secure l 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 | in southern Arizona is not seriously or even uncomfortably cold.
 Owing to this combination of seasons q re- markabe 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, fiouriShes 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 thefrostS of winter flourish in southern Arizona In northern Ari- Zona. where the temperatures more resemble those of northern Illinois many of the more dis tinctively temperate-rcgiOn crops flourish. such as potatoes. apples, and various small fruitS
 When. with this diversity of products is coupled a heathful, and for the most of the year agreeable, climate, it will be seen that agricul- tural in Arizona possesses distinct advantages.