New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-08-03
TIE COLORADO COLONISTS.

|
| OTHER CROPS AT GREELEY.
GREELEY, Col, July 12.-It seems now toll
erably certain that farming In Colorado by means OF
irrigation is become scientific pursuit. Tho failures
in irrigation In the East may, judge DO principally
ascrbed to two being an Irregular def
Gent excessive supply OF moisture, ana the other
GOODNESS and general backwardness Of many of the sea-
that notwithstanding the correctness of theories
the adverse natural conditions the expected results
Hero what the farmer proposes to do certain day
he perform; and all tho plans for the year may be
laid down months in advance, and carried out with
scarce a variation. Not day. or even all hour, need
be lost by OF stormy weather and through per-
fected system Of irrigation crop may be sown at any
hour previously determined upon, even years before
| However, find that many details are TO be estab-
lished and only familiarity with tho system will enable
to decide what they shall be- 1t is perhaps singular
that while irrigation has been pracced many thousand
years, and large portion OF the earth-in Egypt
Italy, india and Chna-no definite information in re-
gard to 1t is to be found in any literary work We have
scientific investigations to the general and par
tcular effects of water rules and principles as to
running lines canals; the nature power OF water In
large small volumes heads In short are almost as
wholly without guide the people Of the first ages
OF the world 1t Ia likely however. that much OF the IN
| formation we need formerly possessed by the
Egyptians but the art of printing was unknown, 1t
has been lost along with much else which made that
country the granary the world and enabled 1t for
hundreds Of years to supply tie City OF Rome with
| bread.
We get some valuable information from the Colorado
| ranchmen, particularly when we employ them ana
watch tho method Of their operations Despite tho dis
advantages in respect to capital and experience with
which they contend, their has been wonderful
and farmers from the East a5tOnshed on behodng
the immense stacks Of grain produced on comparatively
small pieces of ground. 1t must be granted that we,
ourselves, have yet but imperfect knowledge, and
~
leading principles maxims, but, having commenced
on large scale construction OF rrgang canals the
most extensive I'm America, SHALL of necessity be
obliged to TO clear understanding Of whatever
| relates to the subject.
To my mind the first idea he impressed a. that the
farmer Is TO entirely different relation to
crops In the ground from that OF the Eastern farmer
that s he species OF special providence
and watch and for vegetation and grain from the
time It is committed to the ground until 1t Is gathered
nor relax single day In his supervision. This does not
mean that he shall constantly bestow his labor, but
that he shall continually keep watch observing tho
effects previous labor and Judging when further labor
shall required The work OF farmer here then, con-
sist great extent in observation and investigation
while actual manual work bestowed comparatively
trifng Hence 1t that farming rises to science ana
the thinking and the observing man IL destined to be
1t quite likely that the reason why so
little information Is to be obtained from Oriental coun'
tries irrigation because the aborer Is slave or OF
| ing information. I know that the British and French
have published elaborate works. but these, mainly
by engineers who know little nothing Of the actual
cultivation Of the soil.
Our farmers successful this year in the degree
that they AMI gagged the nature OF the
soil and their own capabilities. Some failures have
CURED and be attributed to two definite causes one
because too much undertaken and one because con-
slant and intelligent observation neglected. know
OF three pieces OF wheat which will name by numbers
The five which will call No 1, were sown early,
wa ID,
came up we'll and was promising; but was a0s9ntey
accident on ono occasion And Notwithstanding water
in abundance and the land could and can be Hooded
is today as brown and desolate as desert OF sand
The field containing acres which VIII term NO :, was
sowed about the time, II plowed WELL came up
WELL wstered early and 1t gave promise of fuli
crop But about ten days ago. when the owner should
and it only in the latter 1rt OF last week that he
cient still attention Is given, win do toleraply
well. The field No. g. was sown after the other
hs R SeGH0 DO ss w aHp
| grain came up WELL and when 1t began to shade the
In about 10 days water was applied again The time ex
pended about two hours day one hour IN the b,
run during the intervening hours ana the whole os
watering was about four days me hours b Ss
water only short time being employed In directing IT,
days after was = an ISf ped ng Srs ee hS
Is all headed out evenly and the yield must be good
friends it Is stated that this test piece belongs your
look at it the first thing in
is small piece OF grain it is in fact equal to 20 of
average grain through the United states and may be
added II 10 Is to the purpose II Is close TO town OF
nearly 1000 inhabitants-a town which, littlc over
As regards quality no country OF which have knowl
edge produces wheat equal to that grown here gen
has examined some fields and he states that
the average number OF kernels to head rs 80 Inc nun
usually sown sure give from IS 10 49, The heads
OF whole crop having above 40 kernss are ne say,
on sod ground few pieces ground powed last year
far the best hence. when we fairly get to work
shall excel the world know good wheat Is raised IN
California but as they depend wholly upon rain and as
mat 5 March, Ms sff our % hs
| to terminate, and this 1t always does.
Agricultural knowledge certainly makes progress so
@ GSYasS e. 05aK ns N.Y. n aS s MST july
Ia wheat wses well ground prefer irrigation to
RAIN and with good head OF water o can peat ae
fell IL is true cannot go much ground but
can do the work thoroughly, and pour the water
inso thirsty places in manner that rain always tas 70
do. When a farmer depends on rain alone Tor wheat
growing he contends with some serious hiht ths
rain makes ground hard, and pounds or lodges Tue
grain often on in such n vast ters and Sons little
good while it spreads over whole district ana among
seldom comes exactly at the right time On the contrary
with good head OF pour into ned OF gram
| garden just us 1nucu MhtcA as 10
comes In slowly, quietly and peaeeaby, ana yer tnot
beside coming from the lofty mountains II bears ee,
ments OF fertility from wasting rocks Irom Iores's anu
| erumblipg banks, such as rain never brings. ,..
We experimenting in various crops snch as orSon
| Potatoes were planted largely and IN season, from
garden patches TO i've and tenacre pieces they nave
selling go high that do not choose to state the figure,
bur IL is considerably above i've cents pound whie o
good order are sold AZ - cents ~ ~
that the average Yield cannot be less than 100 bushels 70
The acre file some pieces may reach 800 bushels Inc
potato has done but little damage ior go sooh Us