The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1886-05-26
NEW MEXICO.
Another Letter From Our Santa Fe Corre-
Observation-Disclosures, the Water
Question, Fruits, Etc.
Especial Sentinel Letter.

SANTA FE, N. NJ, May 1S.-Perhaps it may
be of interest to some of the readers of the
Sentinel to know the general character of
this country as relates to agriculture and the
other ordinary pursuits of life. Although
the writer entertains great hopes for the
future of New Mexico and believes that
some day it will be one of the most desira-
BILE places of residence in the Union, yet
there are many things that will necessarily
retard its progress, and persons thinking of
making their homes here should be fully in
formed of the difficulties they may be re-
ouired to encounter for years to come.
What is said is not tor the purpose of dis.
couraging any one from coming, but, on the
contrary, to prepare them for the great
change they Will have to undergo in the
matter of farming, stock raising, fruit
growing or any other kind of pur-
suits they may desire to follow. Could
a person be bodily transported from the
fields OF Indiana or Illinois and dropped
down in this country and observe the man.
ner of doing business he would think he
was in some foreign cline. Persons can not
take up forty or eighty acres OF land here at
any place and be assured that if we'll cult
waited it will afford him living as he in
the States named. The primary considera-
ton here in selecting spot Tor any pur-
pose is water. This article commands
premium. 1t is about the only thing that
corner could be successfully made on. In
the States one may settle down almost any
place and depend on Providence to furnish
water during the year, both for agricultural
and domestic purposes, but if such depend
ence was INDUCED in here few months
would develop case OF misplaced con-
fdence. In consequence OF this condition of
things this country can not become settled
rapidly by small farmers whose pleasant
homes will dot every hillside and dale as in
in the North and East. A person desiring to
engage in farming may find piece of land
that seems desirable being favorably located
in some respects, and possessing good soil,
for the purposes he wishes to devote it
to, on account of there being no water.
Again, in the spring of the year, when the
melting SHOWS from the mountains are feed
ing the streams water may be abundant, but
before the season is half over the bright
sparkling streams become dry beds of glisten-
ing sand. Therefore, the great deslderatum
in selecting land for any purpose is the wa
ter supply.
The mode of tilling the soil where irri-
CATION must be reSOrted to for the purpose
of supplying the water provided by nature
IN other sections, is so different from that
pursued where it rains upon the ust and the
be amiss. AS stated, the supply
of water must first he looked
after. This being assured, the ground for
tillage must be selected with the view of
being able to conduct the water over every
foot of it. 1t must not be supposed that
land can be had in any considerable quaint
ty where water may be conducted upon it
without considerable labor and expense. On
the contrary, irrigating canals must be con-
structed, often miles in length and at con-
siderable expense. Laws exist for the gov
eminent and control of what are termed
public acequias (canals), being very similar
to the laws regulating the opening and
maintaining of public highways, each per-
son being obliged to contribute for the con-
struction, repair and overseeing of the same
in proportion to benefits received. Penal
ties are also provided for obstructing or be
fouling the water of these canals. Not only
are they used for irrigating purposes, but
they flow through the door yards, aud are
often the only supply for domes-
tic uses. Persons in travelling over
the country will often encounter
these artificial streams high upon the mount
ain side, winding their silent way among
trees and rocks to furnish the necess iry
moisture to thirsting vegetation in the val
| ley below. Many times these streams must
! be carried across deep ravines in wooden
| fumes supported by trestles. Water COM
panies are formed in some localities to bring
water from a long distance ana supply 1t to
| consumers.
Having selected a spot for cultivation, it
| must then be prepared in such manner
that water will flow and gradually spread
| over it. In order to secure this result the
| ground is laid Off squares, the size depend
| ing somewhat on the lay of the land. These
squares originally some thirty or forty feet
in size, are divided by ridges of earth resem-
bling sweet potato ridges. When it is neces-
| m Uata %
turned upon the highest spot, or square, and
when it is sufficiently flooded it is let into the
| next highest, and so on until
the entire field is supplied,
and it is then conducted by canal into the
main irrigating ditch, to be carried on to the
/ next consumer. 1t Will be seen that ground
prepared and planted in this manner can not
| be TILED as in the North, by blowing. Crops
must be selected that need no cultivation
after planting, such as wheat, oats, rye,
| grasses etc, or else the working thereof
must be by hand. 1t may seem to the FAR
mers of the broad fields of those sections
where all work is done by improved agricult-
ural machinery that this kind of farming
would never pay; and while it is true that it
has its wbacks, yet it also has its advant-
ages. When the water supply is once as
sured and the canals constructed no fears
| need be entertained of either droughts or wet
seasons. Crops are neither destroyed by
overflow or burned up for want OF rain.
| Every person can furnish their own rain at
| the exact time and in the proper quantity,
and while this mode of farming is
not we'll adapted to the raising of
| crops on large scale that require
| tillsge during growth, such as corn, yet the
other classes of products are sure OF boun-
teous yield from year to year, If the proper
! attention is given them. This character of
country is particularly suited to the raising
| of fruits of all kinds, both large and small.
] The dry pure atmosphere ripens fruit to per-
| lection, while such a thing as rot or mildew
produced from dampness is unknown. The
absence of insects aud pests of this nature