The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1879-10-24
Irrigation Of Colorado Farms.

There is no doubt that nearly every
one who visits this region for the first
time, even if partially informed about
it beforehand, is grievously disap-
pointed at the arid aspect of the plains,
and finds it hard to believe in the power
of that great benefcent agent, water,
Which can make every inch of these
table-lands and valleys, or the sage
brush wastes of the Humboldt region, or
the Egyptian desert itself, literally
blossom like the rose." This is COM
paratively rainless area, the barren and
dry land, where no water is" of the
Psalmist; and yet means has been
found of not only supplying the place
of the rains of heaven, but also of MAX
ing such supply constant and regular.
An intelligent and experienced writer
says: Irrigation is simply scientific
farming. The tiller of the soil is not
left to the mercy of fortuitous rains.
His capital and labor are not risked
upon an adventure. He can plan with
all the certainty and confidence of a
mechanic. He is a chemist whose labora-
tory is certain area of land; every
thing but the water is at hand-the
bright sun, the potash, and other min
eral ingredients (not washed out of the
soil by centuries of rain). His climate
secures him always from an excess of
moisture, and what nature fails to yield,
greater or less, according to the season,
the farmer supplies from his irrigating
canal, and with it he introduces, with
out other labor, the most valuable fertil-
izing ingredients, with which the water,
in its course through the mountains,
has become charged"
Water is thus both for the farmer and
the herder-and the ranchman, who is
both farmer and herder-the sine qua
non, the prime necessity; and just here
did one see how well Uncle Pete had
chosen his situation. He had nine
miles OF water frontage on the st.
Charles creek, and the same on the
Muddy. Just where the former comes
out of the Wet mountain range, and
where no one could take water above
him, he had tapped it for his broad
irrigating ditch, which, after tortuous
course through the estate, empties
again into the stream from which it
came, not drop of its precious con-
tents being thus wasted. Along the
upper side of the fields lying on this
gentle slope before described run
smaller bitches. Then during the sea-
son does the skillful Mexican laborer
dig little channels leading down through
these fields, and, making little dams for
the purpose, turn the water into them.
The result is simple: Uncle Pete has
raised 10000 bushels of wheat, 5000 OF
oats and 1000 of corn, and had mar.
ket for the whole on the spot, it being
one of the charms of Colorado farming
that the "honest miner" is both hungry
and liberal, and that the farm produce
has ready buyers. Suppose, however
that for our present purpose we call
farming side issue, and come to the
cattle which this ranch would support
all the year round. II is said that when
Kentucky cattle men, fresh from the
Bluegrass region" see the plains
they are entirely incredulous as to theil
fitness for stock; but the experienced
stockman smiles, well knowing that the
nutritious qualities of the grass are
simply unsurpassed, and that the fooG
for his cattle for the whole year is ready
at minimum of cost. For their water
again, Uncle Petes splendid creel
frontage more than amply provided
Il. Il. Hayes, Jr., IN HaYper's Maya
zine.