The Arizona sentinel. [volume] (Arizona City [Yuma], Yuma County, A.T. [Ariz.]) 1872-1911, 1909-09-23
RICHES OF SOIL WONDERFUL

RlOhES Of SOlL AONDEhF Oh
But the object OF this story IS to call atten-
lion once more, and for perhaps the thou
sandth time, to the riches of the soil along
abe 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 fOnDd in the
Imperial Valley country around Brawley,
Calexieo and other points west of the river
The fertility of the black prairie soils Of ITli-
uois has astonisbed people engaged in agri-
culture for nearly one hundred years. The
fertility OF the valleys OF the Nile has been
matter OF history for at least 5000 years. Those
who arc familinr 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.
IL you ask a farmer along this stretch OF
country ifthe soil Is six feet, his eyes will
open with astonishment al your ignorance.
He will tell you no one knows whether IL is
% feet, 500 or 5000 feet deep. 1t is practically
without bottom. It. is thoroughly well
mixed with sand, dfsintegratcd granite and
other rocks that il never breaks. 1t is rs
easily worked as a heap Of ashes, and re-
spends 30 cultivation in n way that Is mar
velous-
CUT SEVEN CROPS YEARLY.
Arizona has established an experiment
SistiOn in the heart Of this big valley, which
Is some twenty-four miles long, and in spots
Ten to twelve miles wide, down on the lower
level. The results are wonderful. Last week
1hey were cutting crop Of alfalfa OH this ex-
perimental farm and for seven consecutive
months they viii cut succeeding crops. The
only months when the cTep Is not cut here are
December and January.
Cotton ana tobacco grow with tine greatest
luxuriance, and this rich alluvial soil will be
noted in very few years as the ideal spot in
the whole country for dairyiDg. hog raising
the production Of poultry and vegetables, which
one besitates to cali early or late, as they will
be perennial- New potatoes will be produced
IN the middle Of January, tomatoes viii 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 q whole winter
With an abundance OF 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
dinicult elsewhere. There is no spot in South
ern Illinois or Missouri SO adapted to the pro-
auction OF corn as this valley along the Colora-
do River. With alfalfa and corn, the butter,
cheese. eggs, poultry and pork to be raised on
twenty-acre farm will amaze those who have
the experience in American agricultural Affairs
The winter climate around Yuma is a thing
so intoxicatngly salubrious That no words can
describe it. Those deserts OF America. as we
have regarded them heretofore, seem 10 defy
the Ills that human nature elsewhere Is so
prone TO contract and suffer from. The atmos
phcre is as dry as punk the skies cloudleSsly
clear, the air mild possible, and every
breath seems To be an inspiration OF new life