Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1902-12-20
About the Future Of
The Sage Brush Deserts.

great arid farms have been observed IN
places which have received as little u
not less than is received by many OF
the so-called deserts, that have been
looked upon for many years as IRE
deemable wastes.
n Is true that certain methods OF cul-
ture and OF soil resting must be follow
ed very carefully to make q success Vi
arid farming, but these methods are not
more difficult, when once understoou'
than are those followed in irrlgat'oh
farming
There has been for some time bat
Tie royal between the stock ana sheeP
interests Of the state and the Irrigation
farmers. The public ranges are Delns
contracted, the forests reserved ior the
regulation and maintenance OF the wa
ter supply. and the stock and sheep IN
terests feel that they are being driven
TO the wall. Why should not our great
deserts be used ia the solution OF thls
problem, which Ia of great economic
Importance TO the state. Grasses may
be found, which If a stand once be Cd,
tained, will grow up each spring ana
Yield very good crop OF forage before
the season of drouth sets in Ihese
stretches could In this way be made to
support numberless head OF cattle ana
sheep. and the water which Is now
pumped from the soil through yegeta-
tlon that Is useless to man could be
made to produce nutritious, palatable
stock foods. BY such cheap production
of fodder on land that never will have
q very high acre value, the interest OF
stock and sheep men would be further
ed and there would be no necessity OF
destroying an industry which
would be obtained over sucf
lands; and they would be care
fully treated and the evil results
which follow oyerstocklng aud careless
treatment Of the range would be elm
mated.
To those who have not given TINS
matter serious thought, the question
may arise Is II possible TO find grains
and grasses that will yield at all profit
ably on our deserts? There are known,
already, numerous varieties Of plants
that appear to be especially adapted TO
conditions Of extreme dr0uth. The seeds
OF these plants have been gathered
from various places In all parts OF the
world, and have been observed In their
a minimum Of soil moisture. These
seeds should be sown on small tracts
I'm various parts Of the state In order to
determine 10 what extent II IL possible
10 utilize the waste lands. In addition,
methods Of culture that appear suita-
BILE for arid farming should be lnvesi-
gated and the results given to the pub
lie. In very few years, by such sys-
tematic Investigations, much light
would be thrown upon the possibilities
Of the sagebrush desert and In all
probability Il would result In much
wealth being added to the income OF
the state.
Upon the state rests the duty Of do
ing this work. now is the time 10 do H.
A small annual appropriation for four
or Ave years would probably be sum
cient 20 demonstrate TO the farmers the
methods by which even the great
American desert may be made 20 yield
revenue TO intelligent man.
The deserts are with US. u rests with
US whether they shall remain deserts
or become productive farms. Modern
science has done much IN changing
| conditions that were thought 10 be be-
yond change The problem OF making
useful plants grow on the sagebrush
desert without the addition Of irriga-
ton water Is not by any means the
most difficult problem before agricul-
tural science.
Let the present legislature look into
| this matter and consider II wen and
make such appropriations as will make
a beginning towards the reclamation Of
! our desert lands