Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1879-10-17

There is no doubt that nearly every one
who visits this region for the first time, even
If partially informed about it beforehand. is
uievously disappointed at thu arid aspect Of
tn, plains. and finds it hard t. believe in the
power Of that great honohceut agent water
which can make every incl 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 O. comparatively raiuless area. the barren
and dry land where no water is, Of the
Ps.lmist and vet "a means has been found OF
not Gully supplying the place of the rains of
heaven. but also of making such supply con
slant and regular An intelligent and expe-
ricuc,d writer says irrigation is simply
scientific farming. The tillcr Of the soil is
not left at the mercy Of fortuitous rains. His
capital and labor are not risked upon an ad-
venture He can plan with all the certainty
and confidence Of "a mechanic. He is a chem
list whose laboratory is a certain area Of land
everything but the water is at haud-the
bright sun, the potash. and other mineral III
gradients not washed out of the soil by cen
turtles Of rain. His climate secures him al
ways from al excess Of moisture. and what
nature fails to yield. greater or less. accord
ing to the season. the farmer supplies from
his irrigatng canal, aud with 1T j, introduces.
without other labor the mos, valuable fprtil-
izng ingredients, with which the water III
lis course through the mountains, las become
charged
Water is thus, both for the farmer and the
herder-aud the rauchmau. who is both far
mer and horder-the sine qua HoI,, the prime
necessity and just here did one see how
well Uncle Pete had chosen lis situation. He
had nine miles Of water frontage Oh the ST.
Charles Greek and the same on the Muddy.
just where the former comes out Of the West
Mountain range. and where no one could take
water above him, hc had tapped il for Lis
broad lrrigatng ditch, which, after IL tortuOus
cours, through the estate. lmpties again into
the stream from which it came. not drop Of
Its precious contents being thus wasted
Along the upper side of the fields lying on
this gentle slope before described run smaller
bitches Then during the season does the
skilful Mexican laborer dig little channels
leading down through these fields, and max
ing little dams for tn purpose. turn the wa
ter into them The result Is simple Uncle
Pete has raised III, 600 bushels of wheat COCO
Of oats, and 1000 Of corn. and lad "a market
for the whole OIL the spot, it being one Of the
charms Of Colorado farming that the honest
miner j. both hungry and liberal, aid that
the farm produce has ready buyers Sup
pose however that for our present purpose
We call farming side issue and come to the
cattle which this ranch would support the
year round Il is said that when Kentucky
cattle men, fresh from the "Blue-Crass Re
gjol, see IL, plains, they are entirely iucred-
ulou- as to their fitness for stock but the ez-
perieuced stockman smiles well knowing
that tn, nutritious qualities Of the grass ar,
simply unsurpassed and that the food for his
cattl, for til, whole year is ready at 81 mini
mum Of cost Tor their water, again Uncle
Pete splendid creek frontage more than am
ply provided --H1ry,r Nagdzine