The Arizona sentinel., 1909-06-24
RICHES OF SOIL woNpFRFUL


 But the object Of this story is to call atten- sion once more, and for perhaps the thou Eandth time, 60 the riches Of the soil along the Colorado on both sides, incident to the dcpositidg 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 fmperial Valley country around Brawley, galeXico and other points west of the river The fertility Of the black prairie soils of Illi- nois has a. .oEished people engaged in agri- sulture for nearly one hundred years. The s,rtility Of the valleys Of the Nile has been a matter of history for at least 6OCe years Those who are fanifinr with Illinois prairie soil, and those who know what the valley of the Nile is for agriculture, khow that this lower Colorado River region surpasses both of them.
 If you ask a farmer along this stretch Of country if the soil is six feet, his eyes will open with astonishment ai your ignorance 5te will tell you no one knows whether it is C) feet s9G or GOOD feet deep. It is practically without bottom. It is so thoroughly well mixed with sand, disntegrated granite and ether rocks that it never breaks. IL is as easily worked as heap Of ashes, and re- spends toeuiiivatbon in way that is mar Ee!oEs-
 CUT SEVEN CROPS YEARLY
 Arizona tas established an experiment station in the heart of this big valley, which is some twen ty-fous miles long, and in spots ten to twel re rrsiles wide, down on the lower leveA- Tae results are wonderful. Last week they were cutting |. crop of alfalfa on this ex- al rnonths they will cut succeeding crops. The only months when the crop Is not cut here are December and January-
 Cotton and tobacco EyoN with the gGeateSt guxuriance and this rich alluyial soil wiQ be acted in a very few years the ideal sEsot in She wholc country for dElirying, hog raising the production Of poultry and vegetables wiich enc heSitates to call early or late, as they @al be perennial. New potatoes will he produced 5n the middle Of January tomatoes wEll be ripe by the first of March. ripe grapes Will be gathered in the carly days of May, and apri- cots by the middle of the same Honth- Chic ken> and turkeys flourish there in the winter sirl- beyond aIl experience anywhere else
 The rainfall k exceedingly light and comes only three or fo1r times 5n a whole winter. With an abundance of green alfalfa and vezet- able the dry and not oyerheated climate prevailing in the winter months, chickens are free from the disease th;st make their raising difficult elsewhere. There is no spot in South e:n Illinois AIisSotri adapted to the pro- dactioE of corn as tEiS valley along the Cobra do kivc-. Wfth alltif.s and corn, the batter sie-s'e. c.t:s, poultry aInt pork to be rased on Q t~anty-..cre farm will amaze those wts0 have ,he experience in American agricultural affairs Tine winter cliulate around Yuma Is g. tl4ine so inLoxic&tinRly ssLlabyiouS lhat DO g2ost1s eaE describe it Those deserts of America. sae s,- hay,. resardel them heretofore. seem tS s9afy the lIls that human nature c!sewh~T~ !, so prom. to cOniract and suffer rroGa. l'h~ sisGses eh-r.. k aS dr9 as punk. the skies c3"uS1eSE.s siear the air mDd ~ possible. Nbt rs.sI s-e@:t sssES:9 tss :. .: :; :r2-..: q cc- >.ce