The sun., 1901-04-18
BY WAY OF SUGGESTION.

SoflS Dy lfTiSdltou. iHoiSHluS VI hcEtS |
If the arid land of the West have been
and made wonderfully fertile
simply by ii methodically regulated sup
ply of water In San Francisco the most
park of the city was formerly
arid wastes OF sand that were at one
time part of the floor of the Pacific
Ocean. Californians assert that they
now have iii this reclaimed arid waste
Of sand" the most beautiful park. con-
the most luxuriant vegetation
in the world; all brought about by the |
;illcous nSe Of hy,lrant water. Nearer |
1t home we have heard Of similar re-
sults. in the raising Of vegetables, on the
and dunes of Long Island. These
hiilgs are suggestive Of like possibilities
ipon the sands of Sussex" Evidently
his local sandy soil is Of similar origin
Nith those Of the Pacific coast: they
rave hcen east mp from the hottom Of the
,cran There is no reason to suppose
hat they are in any way different. or
hat the same treatment would not pro-
luce like good results.
OF course il is to be understood that
he rains here supply. i'll part, the water
,cceSsary for the fertilization Of the
;oil. This. however,, is not constant II
irregular and uncertain. When il is
apparently needed il does not come. and
| Ii this way the crops are delayed for
| he need of it and often ruined by too
much Of il at the wrong time. If il was
possible to promote the growth Of the
| ,egrtation mt the periods when its
growth is retarded for want Of water.
here comes the suggestion Of possible
/ yoi,lance Of the ruin that follows II
| iuod M weakened vines and roots: and
ny too. on partially ripcncd fruit. There
: this vast difference between the arid
i ands OF the West and those of this
| pcality: their water must he brought
rom great distances, 1T great expense
4 md the problem Of irrigation becomes
ne vast magnitude: one that involves
Problems in engineering first for obtain
II. il supply Of water and then for its
general distribution. Here the uucs
ion seems to br one involving no greater
problem than that of bringing UP the
water lying only Il few feet below the
surface Of the soil In sandy soil the
surface water is quickly evaporated and
here is 10 SuStenancc for the plants.
here is plenty Of water below the line
II the depth reached hy the heat and air
" which the surface water is cvapol.
he solved TO afford constant and reg
liar, and regulated supply Of water, fol
Nc appreheml that regulation of the sup
,ly would hr i,s essential rs its con
tancy. The utilization of this hi,dcl
source Of fertility for the soil Is thei
imply il question of wells ana pumps
H. the waiter 10 Other reservoirs hiyl
'nongll for distribution hy gravity. Th
means for doing this is familiar t,
ilnost every one. The wind engine sup
lilies tho fail-ho,lses with water 10
Domestic uses. and for the watering o
stock and is Il familiar fixture on many
not a majority Of the farms Of Ill
State. II il could be made to suppl
. | waiter for the vegetation as well. and tn
= csults were anything like what seems t
:. ~ reasonably suggested. the problem
Z With which the farmers and flliit-groM
rs of this peninsula have been strnl
: -lin@ would be solved. The uurStio
%, of what % do with the supposed
nrertilr and practically useless sand
# Sussex" would lie answered.
There is Just another suggestion TIL;
,emeS lip in this discussion, and tia
= that water contains the essentials i
:, plant growth. and the supply Of il Supel
.r,leS the necessity Of the supply 1
Dtllcl fertilizers. As we understand th
subject the supply Of fertilizers has
We fold purpose. 10 put upun the Ian,
and into the soil matter that will II,
= only hold water. hut holding also I'll
:, dement's Of plant life, make tho suppl
II these possible by means Of the Wat,
n. and falling upon the soil the soll
,Ir matter being taken mp by the wat,
and put into the soil hv Saakagr. III
suggestion Of apparently greatest in
Wrtanrr is that water is Of itself. whe
properly supplied and regulated. all II
fertilizer that is needed. Ii this is ii,
tlnr thc irrigation facilities offer il
y Snest and best way for the appicatc
~ and distribution If whatever chemic
hf agent is needed III the fertilization
~ s"lsz-thr water supplied can he cllarg,
y. with any desirable fertilizers supple
= 1T times and in quantities that may |
" determined.
pl The thought that was first in til
" suggestion. and Of which we do II,
ne want 10 lose sight is that tile successf
90 Efforts 1T fertilization Of arid sandy sol
~ IN ether parts Of the country siiggcs
Y way for the utilization OF much Of Il
H. and Of this State which is not in prof
III able use because Of its supposed ii
~ fertility.
he Isn't It funny that discrepancies in Il
10. filling Of the mandates of the law Il
it. always found when Democrats 20 %