The Arizona sentinel. [volume] (Arizona City [Yuma], Yuma County, A.T. [Ariz.]) 1872-1911, 1909-10-14
RICHES OF SOIL WONDERFUL

But the object of this story is to call atten-
ton once more, and for perhaps the thou
sandth time, to the riches of the soil along
the Colorado on both sides, incident to the
Siepositfdg of this mass of debris during all
the past ages. Going through the country
ON the Arizona side OF the river, for several
miles below Yuma, one encounters the same
type of country and soil that is found in the
Imperial Valley country around Brawey,
Calex5eo and other points west of the river
The fertility of the black prairie soils of Hi
nois has astonished people engaged in agri-
culture for nearly one hundred years. The
fertility of the valleys CT the Nile has been a
matter Of history for at least COCO years. Those
who are familiar with Illinois prairie SOIL
and those who know what the valley of the
Nile is for agriculture. know that this lower
Colorado River region surpasses both Of them.
If You ask farmer along this stretch of
country If the soil is six feet, his eyes will
open with establishment al your ignorance.
lie will tell you no one knows whether it is
~ feet, $40 or 5000 feet deep. 1t is practically
without bottom. 1t is 50 thoroughly well
mixed with sand, dfsintegrated granite and
other rocks that it never breaks. 1t is ais
easily worked as a heap OF ashes, and re-
spends to cultivation in a way that is mar
PelOns-
CUT SEVEN CROPS YEARLY.
Arizona has established an experiment
station in the heart of this big valley, which
is SOHO twcnty-four mites long, and in spots
Zen 20 twelve miles wide, down on the lower
level. The results are wonderful. Last week
they were cutting a crop of alfalia on this ex-
perimental farm, and for seven consecutive
months they Will cut succeeding crops. The
only months when tRe crop Is not cut here are
December and January.
Cotton and tobacco grow with the greatest
suxurianee and this rich alluvial soil win be
noted in q very few years as the ideal spot in
she whole country for dairying- hog raising,
the production Of poultry and vegetables which
one heSitates to call early or late, as they Will
be perennial. New potatoes VIII be produced
in the middle of January, tomatoes win be
ripe by the first of March. ripe grapes Will be
gathered in the early days of May, and april
cots by the middle of the same month. Chic
kens and turkeys flourish there in the winter
time beyond all experience anywhere else.
The rainfall is exceedingly light and comes
only three or four times in a whole winter.
With an abundance OF green alfalfa and veget-
able the dry and not overheated climate
prevailing III the winter months, chickens are
free from the disease that make their raising
difficult elsewhere. There is no spot in South
ern Illinois or Missouri so adapted to the pro-
duction of corn this valley along the Colora-
do River. With alfalfa and corn. the butter,
cheese, eggs poultry and pork to be raised On a
twenty-acre farm will anaze those who have
the experience in American agricultural affairs
The winter climate around Yuma is a thing
so intoxicGtingly salU5rious that no WORKS can
describe it. Those deserts of America, as we
have regarded them heretofore, seem TO defy
the Ills that human nature elsewhere is so
prone to contract and suffer from. The atrnoS
phere is as dry as punk, the skies cloRdleSs8y
clear the air mild possible, and every
breath seems to he an inspiration Of new life