The Arizona sentinel., 1903-01-07
ARIZONA.
Her Great ReSourceS---Splendid
 SOil---Fine Climate.
Agriculture One of the Important
 Industries of Arizona.
No Fertilization of the Soil Ncces- sary--SiIt Deposited by lrri- 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 experiment station, IS published
 as giving fair resume of the cCnclu-
 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 end certain sources 1 of wealth, insure the Territory as whole,
 against those excessive fuctuations~in popula | tion and finance which arc so often observed in ! purely mining communities. Although but
 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 industrei
 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,so0,000
 acres in the Territory only 57OO,OOO acres are l privately owned, of which about 450,0Oo 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 waterwiI lead to the successful
 irrigaation of much more than the area under ditch.
 | The future of agriculture in Arizona is, with
 out question. more than usually good. and for l 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 of
 arid regions are rich in the clements of fertili
 ty requiring only the evcr-needful water, skill,
 and industry in their management to secure
 abundant returns. The fertility of cultivated
 soils in irrigated regions is further assured by l 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 l of subtropical fervor while from September to November there is a second mild season Of tenn peTaue 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-
 markable 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 Alfa!ta, the great forage of the arid West, houriSheS 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 rN0f0 riIITo Tn hrlo ar1J- 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 tinctively temperate-region crops flourish, such as potatoes appIeS, ana various snaII IrultS. coupled healthful, and for the most of the year agreeable, climate, it will be seen that agricul- tural in Arizona possesses distinct advantages.