Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-08-09


the only stumbling block to be encountered
by the agriculturist, irrigation makes the
crop an entirely sure thing, and for every
year alike. Under proper arrangement the
water supply never runs out and the crop
gets exactly the moisture it needs at the
very nick of time when needed. With our
good soil and plenty of sunshine there is
nothing required but proper cultivation and
a well regulated water supply to insure a
good crop every year. The good soil and
the sunshine this country (all the South
west possess in a very unusual degree: We
have the early and the later rains" that is
in the early spring and the latter part of
summer. but in the time between these
periods there is chance that our rain sup
ply may fall short of the crops needs, so
We make ready for this possibility by az
ranging an irrigation system. With this
properly arranged drouth is a matter of
little consequence to us-our crops go right
on growing the same as if the clouds were
giving them their required inch Of rainfall
on one certain day in every week.
When an irrigation colony arrdnges to es-
tablish itself in the Southwest, says this
correspondent, the first thing looked after
is a water supply sufficient to irrigate the
land it is proposed to occupy Having set
tied on the water supply ditch is cut from
it leading to the grounds TO be cultivated.
1t may be ditch cut from some running
stream, or it may lead from some reservoir
supplied in part by rains in their season
and in part by artesian wells. This ditch is
made by the people of the colony in com
mon, each individual having his suD-ditch
leading from it to his grounds, and his
time for using the water. The main ditch
is under the charge of one of the persons
interested, who is chosen every year for
this purpose; his duty is to see that the
main line is kept in order, and for that
purpose he may call out At any time all
those who use the water, for the purpose of
repairing or cleaning out the ditch. This
requires on an average about three days
work for each person each year, and that
represents the entire cost of the water
supply. The hours al which different indi-
viduals may use the water are so arranged
as not TO allow anybody to be ''shut off,
for more than two or three days at a time.
The field to be irrigated is cut up into
long narrow beds, with little bitches run
ming between them. The water is let into
these little bitches at the head of the beds
and allowedt to flow along them across the
field TO be absorbed at the sides and taken
under to the roots of the plants. Respond
ing to this treatment everything grows
with 4 luXuriance that would aSJonish a
farmer from the rain belt" Two crops
are raised from the same land nearly every
year. Oats may be put in during the latter
part of February and cut in May; corn is
then put on the same land and has plenty of
time to mature before frost.
These irrigation colonies are made up of
small farmers. While the writer has re-
ferred 10 oats and corn as crops, to make
it plain TO all as to what can
be done, other crops, as fruits,
truck etc. are most generally grown, be-
ing most profitable in small farming, and
best capable of giving several crops
on the same land in the same
season. 1t is not probable that any
10000 acre farms will ever be worked on
this plan, and there is no need that those
should be, for experience has fully eStab-
lished the fact the ''little farm well tiled
is better for the individual as well as for
the community.
While the positions taken by this cor
respondent were intended 10 refer mainly
to New Mexico, it is entirely safe to state
that so far as they relate TO the advantages
secured by irrigation colonies of small
farmers, and to the gains dervable from an
artificial water-supply TO crops, they apply
equally as well TO all Western Texas. and
particularly TO the grand prairie REGION de-
scribed in our popular Science column
of last week. a very large proportion of
the best lands of the grand prairie region
could be irrigated by artesian wells. or
through other means, and once under irliga-
ton no lands could excel them III point of
productiveness. The region is everything
that could be desired as to SOIL climate and
healthfulness, and as to a most desirable
country to live in.
1t seems to US that our people should
unite in an effort to start this irrigation
colony business on the grand prairie of
Texas. A little effort on the part of our
adopted citizens from regions where there
are people DESTROYS of lettering their CON
dition in life by getting into better coun-
try would set the ball rolling, no doubt.
When one colony of this character had been
located, say a colony of Illinoisans. or n
colony of Indianians. or a colony of Ohioans,
or a colony of Missourians, as the case
might be, the heaviest part of the work
would have been accomplished, for other
similar colonies would soon come of them
selves. The first successful colony would
be standing advertisement worth more
than all tho advertising of other character
that could be resorted to.
1t is but natural that people going TO |
strange country should like to have their |
friends around them. and 4 community |
of their own kind of people, in |
every respect. 1t is this disposition that |
makes colonies popular-the new citizens |
feel that they are not casting their lots |
among strangers. 1t is like moving a little |
section of the native state along with them, |
and therefore goes largely towards dispell- |
ing doubts and fears, SO TO speak OF course |
there is nothing to doubt or fear in the |
case, but human nature is human nature the |
world over.