, 1890-08-31
AS A FARMING STATE.
The FIattering Agricultural Posi-
bilities of Wyoming.
Necessary Irrigation a Guarantee
Against Crop Failures.
Everything Grown North and West
Flourishes Under Ditch Here.

bilities, and increased attention is being
given farming in all its branches
In the eastern and northern portions
and in some other localities good crops
are raised without irrigation, and the area
over which this can be successfully done
is doubtless widening, but irrigation
wherever applied greatly assists. and over
a large portion Of the territory is abso-
lutely indispensable,
Surface. The lands are generally
slightly rolling, very accessible, easily
broken to pillow, and quite free from stones
or other distractions.
The SoiL.-In the valleys the soil is
generally a black loan. in some places a
red gypsum, and on the benches. plateaus
and slopes, a sandy loan, usually rich and
warm. A great portion of the territory
which looks blank and barren is an alkali
soil which produces a~bundanly after being
reduced by the application OF water. espe-
cially the sage brush and greasewood
wastes.
Climate.-W hereger the altitude is less
than 7 800 feet the climate is sufficiently
mild and warm to develop crops usually
growp in the northern and western states.
Crops. Tame grasses, alfalfa. clover,
wheat, oats, barley. rye. some corn. pota-
toes, roots generally. melons, and all gar
den vegetables, berries. small fruits, etc.
are being successfully aud very generally
grown; immense crops of hay are gath
cred. and broom corn, sorghum, and
standard apples of excellent growth and
quality have been grown and exhibited at
all our state and county fairs. The
vegetables and grains shown at these fairs
are unsurpassed in yield per acre or iu
size.
New agricultural districts are constant
" being brought to public notice. One
Of the most complete and creditabie ex-
hibits displayed at our last tate fair came
from Salt River valley The product was
not only grown upon public land, but
upon unsurveyed land.
Markets. Wyoming should furnish
within herself the best markets obtainable
for all kinds of agricultural crops. Her
mining and stock interests employ many
thousand men, her cities and towns will
continue to be constant Stock
raising and farming combined is very sue.
cessful.
lrrigation.-In view of the fact that
more than one-half Of the people of the
world reside where irrigation is essential
in the production of agricultural crops:
that one acre cultivated under irrigation
yields as much as three to five acres in
countries cultivated without irrigation:
and that in some countries irrigation is
resorted to as a source of fertilization
where there is sufficient rainfall and ad-
ditional water not necessary, it is very
plain the Importance of this art or the
value OF water when used for purposes of
irrigation cannot be overestImased.
The success which has attended irri-
gated farming in the arid region of the
United States, and the growing import
ance of our agricultural interests. has at
tracted much attention. TIE extension
of the irrigated territory, and the immense
extent of country to be reclaimed by the
practice of this art, makes it of import
ance not only to the arid regions. but to
the whole nation that there be a wide dis
scmination of available information on
this subject.
The great results in individual size and
general yield of crops grown are always
reached by the intelligent application OF
water. Irrigation is more reliable than
rainfall in the production of crops, as the
farmer can regulate the moisture accord
ing to the necessities of each crop and the
soil he wishes to treat. Oats raised in
this manner weigh from thirty eight to
forty-eight pounds to 1.-THE bushel, where
thirty two pounds is regarded the regular
standard without irrigation, and in other
crops a similar result is given. Farmers
who become accustomed to irrigation sell
dom return to farming where irrigation is
not practiced,
The water supplies are reliable as they
have their source high up in the hills or
mountains where living springs abound,
and where in most cases the SHOWS Of
winter are melted during the entire sum,
mer.
The water coming down from the
mountains and higher plateaus is ireigtted
with fer,ilizing materials derived from the
decaYing vegetations and soils of these up.
per regions, which are spread by the flow
ing of water over cultivated lands. Res
ervoirs can be made in the many natura
depressions or basins by storing the sur
plus water during the year, so that small
streams used IN this way will irrigate large
tracts of land.
There is sufficient available water ii
Wyoming to reclaim $1,000, 900 acres Of
land.
The amount invested in irrigation work;
iu this state is over $40, OOo. 900. More
than 5000, 900 was expended on one plant
in this county. The entire cost of re.
claiming land, including proof making, is
from 81 to So per acre.
Engineer Mead says hat taking the re-
suits obtained by our farmers in the linn
itel time which has elapsed since farming
became an important industry here. it is
doubtful if any section of the country can
make a better exhibit. During tae pres
ent year a number competitions have
been held to secure the largest Weld of tile