The Arizona sentinel., 1909-06-17
RICHES OF SOIL WONDERFUL


 sandth time, to the riches of the soil along the Colorado on both sides, incident 10 tho acpositidg of this mass of debris during al the past ages. Going through the country on the Arizona side Of the river, fer severa miles below Yuma, one encounters the sam, type Of country and soil that is found tn ths Imperial Valley country around Brawley Calexico and other points west of the river The fertility of the black prairie soils of Hi nois has as.oDished people engaged in aGri culture for nearly one hundred years. Tho fertility of the valleys Of the Nile has been g matter Of history for at least coco years. Those who are familinr with Illinois prairie soil and those who know what the valley of the Ese is for agriculture. khow that this lower Colorado River region surpssses both Of them
 If you ask farmer along this stretch oi co1sntry if the soil Is six feet, his eyes will oFRn with astonishment ai your ignorance He will tell you no one knows whether It is Gefeet, 6oe or 6.o00 feet deep. It is practically without bottom. If is so thoroughly well mixed with sand, disintegrated granite and othsr rocks that it never breaks. It is as easily worked as heap of ashes and re- spends to cultivation in a way that is mar vicious.
 CUT SEVEN CROPS YEARLY.
 Arizona has established an experiment station in tee heart Of this big valley, which Is some tweEty-four miles long, and in spots ten 10 twelve miles wide, down on the lower feves. The results are wouderfrl- Last week fhey were cutting a crop Of alfalfa on this ex- periyuentsll farm. and for seven consecutive months they will cut succeeding crops. Ths only months when the crop ss not cut hese arc December and January.
 Cotton and tobacco grow with the grsssest luxuriancc, and this risS slluvfSi soil will be noted in q very few years the ideal spot ID the whole country for dairying, bog raising, the production of poultry and vegetables which one hcsitateS to call early or late as they will be perennial New potatoes VII be prodIeed in the middle of January, tomatoes will be ripe by the first of March, ripe grapes will be gathered in the early days Of May, and apri- cots by the midts3e of the same month. Chic. keas and turkeys flourish there in tho winter time beyond all experience anywhere else.
 The rainfall is exceedingly light and comes only three or four times in d whole winter. With an abundance of green alfalfa and vegct- able the dry and not oserhcated climate prevailing in the winter months, chickens arc free from the disease that make their raising difficult elsewhere. There is no spot in South ern Illinois or Missouri 50 adapted to the pro. duction of eern as this valley along the Cobra do River. With alfalfa and corn the butter, cheese. eggs, poultry and pork to be raised Oa a twenty-acre farm will amaze those who have the experience in American agricultural affairs The winter climate around Yuma is thing {pt0 al. Ehas describe it. Those deserts of America. aS we have regarded them heretofore. seem to oefy the Ills that human nature elsewhere is so prone to contract aud suffer from. The stzHes pherc is as dry punk, the skies cleullle.SsIy clear, the air mild possible. and every ssa.A ;.em- = ae 2I .H-p!rs''on - Csw li!s