BUDDING CIVILIZATION OF ARIZONA 



The climate of Arizona varies widely with different 

 altitudes. In those portions of the Territory most favor- 

 able to settlement, including the Salt river and Gila 

 valleys, the summer weather is as trying as the winter is 

 charming. People get used to it, but it is rather a dis- 

 tressing process. While the summer heat is by no means 

 unhealthful or a fatal obstacle to settlement, it is un- 

 questionably a serious drawback. 



In the Salt River Valley all classes of fruits have been 

 tested sufficiently to furnish reliable conclusions as to 

 the range of production. The climate is semi-tropical 

 and the products similar to those of the lowland districts 

 of California and the region about the Mediterranean. 



The government reports show that the highest and 

 lowest temperatures at Phoenix averaged for eight years as 

 follows : November, 78} and 42 ; December, 73} and 36 ; 

 January, 65} and 32 ; February, 71} and 35} ; March, 

 81} and 41; April, 86} and 46. Orange -trees success- 

 fully withstand a temperature of 28 above zero. Hence, 

 it is no surprise to find them growing successfully in the 

 Salt River Valley, at Yuma, and elsewhere in central and 

 southern Arizona. The determination of the exact lim- 

 its of the citrus belt is a nice problem in any country. A 

 certain elevation above the river, and a certain amount 

 of protection from the wind and from the rising sun 

 are essential. The most favored spots are usually those 

 which are screened from the first rays of the morning 

 sun by a background of eastern hills. This condition 

 permits a gradual warming of the atmosphere, so that if 

 there has been a slight frost during the night no serious 

 damage is done to fruit or tree. 



Wherever oranges can be grown at all, the area suitable 

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