The Arizona sentinel., 1902-01-15
ARIZONA.
Her Great ResourceS=--Splendid
 Soil-=-Fine Climate.
Agriculture One of the Important
 Industries of Arizona.
No Fertilization of the Soil NeceS- sary--SiIt Deposited by frri- gatiCn Renders the Soil
 RicIi ir the Element
 of Fertility.
The Climate Conditions Favorable to Great
 Variety of Marketable Produce.

The following report from the direc- tor of experiment station, IS published as giving fair resume of the ccnclu- 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 settled population and certain sources of wealth, insure the Territory, as whole, against those excessive fluctuations in popula ton 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,S00, ,00C acres in the Territory only 5,7O0,OOO acres are privately owned, of which about 450000 acres lrc under irrigation ditch For the total amoun' of land under ditch, there is rot sufficient water in all instances to insure crops; but in timC 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 litch
 The future Of agriculture in Arizona Is, with.
 ut question. more than usually good and for
 he reason that the conditions o soil, irrigati OE | md 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 witt 1 irrigation water. The problems of fertilization
 which become so serious in humid sections arr therefore of much less importance here and not to be so carefully rcclloned with in connection with the future of our agriculture.
 1 The most marked advantage in connection with agriculture and horticulture, especially 1T southern Arizona, is the climate. From January to June the temperature resembles that oi spring and early summer in the latitude of Ken
 lucky From June to September the climate is of subtropical fervor, while from September tC
 November there is a second mild season of tenn perate weather. The winter season, from Nov enber to January, though subject to sharp frost'
 in southern Arizona, is not seriously or ever
 uncomsortably cold.
 Owing to this combination of seasons re
 markable variety of crops may be found in tho
 same locality at different times of the year Strawberries. which flourish in Greenland, may 1 be found on the same land with dates and palms | from Sahara. Alfalfa, the great forage of th' arid West, fiOurisheS alongside with wheat
 corn, and sorghum, respectively characteristic
 of Minnesota, Illinois, and Kansas. Oranges ] lemons. and olives from California may be foun, 1 in the same neighoorhood with peanuts an(
 sweet potatoes from Virginia. In brief, man | of tho leading crops of both temperate and Sub tropical countries, which are not affected b. 1 a too alid atmosphere or by the frostS of winter | flourish in southern Arizona. In northern Ari | Zcna, where the temperatures more resemble
 those of northern Illinois, many of the mere dis l tinctively temperate-regOn crops flourish. sucl
 as potatoes. apples. and various small fruits. When, with this diversity of products l
 coupled healthful, and for the most of the yea | agreeable climate, it will be seen that agricul 1 tural in Arizona possesses distinct advantages