The Arizona sentinel., 1909-12-16
RICHES OF SOIL WONDERFUL

But the object OF this story is to call atten-
zion once more, and for perhaps the thou
sandth time, TO the riches of the soil along
the Colorado on both sides, incident to the
depositidg 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 Brawley,
Calexieo and other points west of the river
The fertility OF the black prairie soils of MI
nois has a>tonished people engaged in agIf-
culture for nearly one hundred years. The
fertility of the valleys Of the Nile has been a
matter of history for at least COCO years. Those
who are familinr with Illinois prairie snil,
and those who know what the valley of the
Nile is for agriculture. know that this lower
Colorado River region surpasses both ofthern.
If you ask a farmer along this stretch OF
country if the soil rs six feet, his eyes will
open with establishment al your ignorance.
He will tell you no one knows whether it is
50 feet, zoe 5000 feet deep. 1t is practically
without bottom. II is thoroughly well
mixed with sand, disintegrated granite and
other rocks that it never breaks. 1t is rs
easily worked a heap of ashes, and re-
spends TO cultivation in a way that is mar
Telogss.
CUT SEVEN CROPS YEARLY.
Rrfz0ua has established an experiment
station in the heart Of this big valley, which
S some twenty-four miles long, and in spots
ten 10 twelve miles wide, down on The lower
seveE. The results are wonderful. Last week
s1ey were cutting a crop of alfalfa on this ex-
peyimental farm, and for seven consecutive
months they will cut succeeding crops. The
only months when the crop is not cut here are
December ana January.
Cotton aud tobacco grow with the greatest
Puxuriance, and this rich alllyial soil will be
noted in very few years the ideal spot in
she whole COUNTRY for dairying, hog raising,
she production OF poultry and vegetables, which
one heSitateS to ean early or late, as they viii
be perennial. New potatoes viii be produced
"a the middle of January, tomatoes will be
ripe BIZ the first Of March ripe grapes will be
gathered in the carly days OF May and april
eoss by the middle OF the same month. Chic
kens and turkeys flourish there in tie 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 CT green alfalfa and veget-
able the dry and not overheated climate
prevailing in the winter months, chickens are
free from the disease that make their raising
aific1it elsewhere. There y no spot in South
err Iii I0iS or Missouri so adapted to the pro
auction o. corn as THIS valley &long the Colera-
do River. With alfalfa and corn, the butter,
cheese. eggs. poultry and pork to be raised on a
twenty-acre farm viii amaze those who have
she experience in American agricultural affairs
The winter climate around Yuma is u thing
80 intoxicatingly sala3rious That no worls csn
describe it. Those deserts of America, as we
Rave regarded them here tofere. seem SO 6tSSy
she ills that human nature elsewhere - so
prone TO contract and suffer from. Tire astIEoH
phere is rs dry as punk, the skies cloltJesSly
clear the air mild rs possible. ard eTe-y
srea1h seems to be an inspiration Of Rex Hte-