The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1901-07-29


Texas have not profted by the example.
While there are but few running streams
In the semi-ard zone of Texas, 1t Is true
that, the rainfall II properly distributed,
would secure the best of crop results.
Oftentlmes the months of May and Sep
TENDER furnish enough rain to each acre,
II II could be stored to give moisture to
the crops during the entire year. Oftener.
however, there are whole months during
vegetables die, fruit and melons wither
and cotton alone manages to struggle
through and live precarious existence.
It Is to be regretted but It is true, that
the farmer under such conditions soon
| loses hope and ambition. He lights for eX-
istence year after year and ckes ont but
/ u Scanty living. Why not construct great
! storage reservoirs In the seml-aid zone Of
Texas and encourage the growth of farm.
| irrigated countries?
! In the sem-arid zone OF Texas the ell
| mate Is universally healthtul. and the fac
! tor OF hard dirt roads, good at all seasons
! of the year, lessons the difficulty of Sc
| lecting good site for such n community.
In many places there exist already SPLEEN
| uld railroad laculues, aHordlng cheap
rate and quick delivery of the products
| OF the farm orchard and garden to the
large cities OF re country.
me c9nslrueuoh OF me reservoir ana
the building OF the canals must be done
| ny men OF capital me magnitude of the
| work and the cost of maintenance rs s.
great that no man can build his own iri.
CATION WORKS, Inc permanent aud steady
supply OF water ls OF such vital Importance
1t would be unsafe to rely upon the volun-
tafy cooperation OF tue community to
MAINTAIN the works; experience has SHOWN
mat inc pesl manager lrrignuun SYST ms
have been by men who make 1t their bust.
ness 10 furnish the water.
inc farms, orchards and gardens should
he located within easy reach of the main
canal and watered by means of late 8
or Iaftn ulrnes constructed along ne
ridges or higher edges of the plat of lana
70 be irrigated. A suthcienJhrad of wafer
should be controlled 10 pnt m. water
quickly over al portions OF the land Gen lie
sloping lands of the nature OF sandy loan
are preferred, on account ef drainage,
which Is one OF the essentials OF irriga..
shallow cultivation resulting In the hos
oush pulNerlzation OF the soil, must follow
tach watering as soon as the idud WI
ADMIT OF IL.
The home builder must not be avarclous
70 acquire vast domain under the ditch
rem acres womb constitute a magazine eat
farm, and would yield through series OF
years more net profits than any 32O-dcre
farm now does within the semi-arld zone
The irrigated orchard and garden responds
directly to Intelligent labor. and no firm
er should make the mistake OF trying
cultivate more than he can TIL perfectly
The whole object of irrigation Is TO supply
a sufficient amount of water Ut the prop
time Tor the particular Kind Of erop; IN.
} exercise OF good Judgment with Il lkuowl
edge of plant life must be displayed d.,
tho farmer in each case. Any telligen
farmer win soon learn from practical cxpe
rlence how TO secure the best results frt II
irrigation,
The community should consist of 200 o.
500 families, aud their holdings should az
gregate 5000 or 1000 acres under irr ga Ion
covering territory hre or six miles | II,
with the width of the valley. The dis,rsc
school house the church, the stores can
ming and cheese factories. creamerles an,
! 4, community that could establish a rec