The Arizona sentinel., 1905-10-18
COL ORADO and GILk VALLEYS

In the valleys of the Colorado ard Gia rivers
there is room for thousands. 1t is not too much
to say that nowhere within the limits of this
broad union can be found more desirable re-
gion for the making of home. No laborouis
clearing of the land is required it lies almost
ready for the plow. Trees ard Shrubbery have
SO rapid growth that within eighteen months
the immigrant can surround his = bode with at
fractions which would require years TO mature
in less favored climates. Fruits ripen and are
ready for the market a full month before the
California products. The bright sunshine
makes life a luxury, and the pure dry atmos-
phere brings health TO all who inhale 1t. For
the establishment of colonies such US are made
in Southern California Arizona presents un-
rivaled opportunities Thousands of acres now
proftleSS can be made productive by the con-
struction of irrigating bitches, and there is no
investment which assures larger and more per-
manent return.
The statements in this article onYuna county
are not exaggerated; in fact they fall short of
doing justice to this wonderful bit of country
PineappleS- dates almonds and Walnuts will do
well. Strawberries, raspberries blaeSbcrries,
currents, gOoseperrieS and all varieties OF
small fruits car. be successfully cultivated. In
deed. Yuma county is not only the natural
home of the citrus and semitropical fruits,
almost every fruit, nut. plant. grain grass, or
vegetable which can be produced IN either tropic
of the temperate zones will thrive in the rich
and fertile soils.
With the bright prospects ahead of the town
of Yuma and Yuma county there can be no bet
ter investment for cUpital seeking large and re-
nlunerative returns than is afforded here. With
a matcheSS climate. where all forms of dis
ease known to the damp and vigorous regions
of the east and north are unknown, where the
bright sunshine klsse' into bleom and ira
GRANGE every form of vegetation, and where the
clear days and cool balmy nights are one long
continued poem of happiness and delight, we
can offer to capitalists an ideal field for invest
ment and to homeSeekerS verftable paradise;
in which to settle.
The soil of these valleys is among the richest
on the continent. 1t is formed of the detrltus
which the streams for ages have brought down
from their mountain homes in their journey
to the sea- BY constant overf1ows and change
of channel, the deposit of this rich vegetable
matter has formed soil of extreme fertility
Near the streams it is q dark alluvial mold
well adapted to small grains and grasses Far
ther back there is rich sandy loan, mellow
and porous and especially favorable for fruit
culture. 1t has been already demonstrated
that the productive capacity of these valleys is
not surpassed by lands of equal area in any
part of the United States So rapid and pro-
life is the growth of thefruits cereals and veg
ct.Ibles that the labor of the cultivator is re-
duced to the minimum In nearly all of them two
one month head of California. The farmer
plants a cottonwood sapling before his door,
and within the year he has shade tree twenty
five feet high Alfalfa can be cut six times dur
ing the season, and it is an actual fact that
grape cuttings have produced within eighteen
months! What state or territory can make
such showing? The climate, 1t must be re-
membered is nearly perpetual summer. Snow
never falls in these southern valleys. The far
mer begins to plant in November, and by the
II
in bloom. fruit trees are blooming, and the
grain fields are a sea of green, when the fields
of the Eastern farmers are covered with snow
and ice.
Every variety of grains, grasses, fruits and
vegetables grown in Semtropic zones can be
produced in the valleys of Arizona. Wheat,
corn, barley, oats and all the small grains give
d yield of from twenty-five to fifty bushels per
acre. Alfalfa timothy, clover, Bermuda and
all the cultivated grasses grow luxuriantly, the
former giving from eight to ten tons to the acre
pap Of VppptahlP raised
the United States can be grown in Arizona, and
nowhere are they found of better quality.
Besides the products mentioned, these semi
tropical valleys produce cotton, sugar-cane, to-
baccO, hemp and rice. With the exception or
the Sugar-cane, but little attention is paid to
the cultivation of other staples; but it has been
demonstrated that the soil and climate are
specially adapted to their successful growth. !
CottOn-growing is no experiment in Arizona,
for it is on record that when the Europeans
first penetrated this region, they found the
Pima Indians wearing fabrics made of cotton !
grown in the ella valley.
but it is their addptability for fruit culture
that assures to these valley lands dense pop |
ulation and prosperous future. Almost every |
variety known can be raised in their tful |
soils. The apple, pear plum, peach, apricot
ounce and nectarine, are of delicious flavor, |
and give generous yield. The grape of all va
rieties is at home in these sunny wales. No |
place in the grape-growing belt OF the Paclnc |
coast can show so prolific yield. The quality |
is all that could be desired; and the Wlne |
although it's manufacture is yet experimental,
Is or line HaVor, dellclouS bouquet, anu un-
surpassed by any native product as a table bev-
erage Experiments with the ralSin grape have |
shown that this climate and soil possess every |
advantage for the production and curing of this
staple article of commerce.
Besides the fruits already mentioned, the |
orange, lemon, lime, olive, fig, pomgranate and
others of the citrus family, can be grown sue
ceSSfully in the valleys of Southern Arizona.
Orange trees are now in bear1ngsln Salt TlVer
valley and at Yuma; while the banana islalso
being cultivated at the latter place. The Ari-
Zona orange in quality and flavor will compare
favorably with the best California.