The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1892-01-09

Fertile fi>'oz lave sprung From the
Deserts Sow Alfalfa Improves
sell Farm Notes and
s>~<- lloasshoid rnnts-


IWhht Irrigation Has Done
AM man In middleag age to-day can
RENE hber the time when il was gener-
ally blieved that California and Colo
RADIO WOULD never be able 10 produce
anything but silver and gold. and that
all yhe men engaged in mining In
thoJe states would have to be fed by
othbr portions OF the country; but
California to-day exports more wheat
thbt any other state In the Union
while her fruits. fresh and canned arc
known around the world; and Colo
RADIO Is not much behind her older
sister on the Pacific; already
she 10 not only self-sustaining but
has for shipment abroad a
large annual surplus OF wheat which
ranks with the best In the
markets OF the world. while her pota-
toes which are unsurpassed. now sup
ply the whole southwest And there
Is nothing in the natural conditions TO
prevent the experience OF these two
states from being repeated in New
Mexico. TO the extent at least OF feed
ing her own people; the element OF
climate and soil are essentially the
same--the difference, where any ex-
lists being in favor OF New Mexico.
The climate is milder than that OF
Colorado and as compared with that
OF California Is superior in all essen
tlal respects for the growing OF every
product except tho semi-tropical fruits
while the power OF the soil is prac-
tically unlimited.
The two great states named, when
in condition OF nature. were as bar
rem and as unproductive as any other
section of what we call the 'arid
regions and all tho munificence Of
their present productiveness Is due en-
tirely 10 irrigation. II certain por-
tions OF the desert can DO thus made
20 blossom as the rose writes New
Mexican correspondent OF the Ohio
Farmer. will not the same means APP
piled to other sections produce the
same resultsp Who. then will assume
10 set limit 10 the countless millions
OF bushels OF grains and fruits which
general and intelligent system OF ir-
rigation will some time produce upon
the now barren plains OF the great
southwest or TO the sum which such
products will annually add TO the az
gregate wealth OF tho nation. II the
man who causes two blades OF grass
TO grow where but one grew before, Is
public benefactor. by what name
shall we characterize a system which
shall cause the food supply OF ma
ton to grow upon land on which only
cactus and sage brush have grown boz
fcrep
As an illustration OF what irrigation
can accomplish for an otherwise bar
rem region. II is only necessary TO look
at the valley OF the Rio Grande. For
nearly three centuries this valley has
been known as the garden OF New
Mexico. Long before the first Ameri-
can immigrant set foot upon its soil
this country was celebrated among the
Spanish natives OF the territory for tho
fertility OF it's lands and beauty OF It's
climate; It's luscious fruits and its I'M
surpassed vegetables were carried into
all the neighborlng districts, while its
genial and sunny climate caused IL TO
be sought as winter resort by the
Weather classes. who came here In
large numbers from hundreds
OF miles around TO enjoy the
phere which here constitute the
rule throughout the winter season.
And the example which was thus set
by our predecessors has been wisely
followed by the Americans. and the
comforts and benefits OF the delightful
winter climate OF this lovely valley
are now known and enjoyed by people
from not only every section OF New
Mexico. but from many portions OF the
country abroad who come hero TO es-
cape the rigors OF the winter In the
Eastern states. BY such persons the
winter season OF this district is hardly
considered winter mt all The sun
shines every day, the air. though
) warm, Is dry and bracing and the
times when one may not sit out OF
doors on the sunny side OF the house
are the exceptions and not the rule.
But of what value would be its equa-
. bic climate. its coudless skies and It's
perpetual sunshine II irrigation had
not reclaimed the desert and made
the erstwhile barren lands OF the val
| ley TO bring forth their abundancei
, All othor conditions may be perfect,
) yet without vegetation n country Il
not habitable; aud hence IL Is that re
gions OF the southwest with soil anC
: climate surpassed by no division o.
the American continent must remain
uninhabitable till the genius the on
ergy and the progress of modern times
shall bring the fructifying water
which will make here the homes o
millions and what is now the 'ari,
regions will then become the store
house OF the nation.