Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1903-09-18
DAY OF EXPERTS
Continued from Page One.)

of the quantities of water actually
used In the processes of growth. To
these quantities must be added enough
to supply the losses which are unavoid-
able under field conditions. These
losses will vary with different soils and
with different methods of cultivation,
but it is believed that dn approximate
duty can be scientifically determined in
this way. We are attacking the same
problem from the other direC ton. Fields
similar in other respects are being
served with different quantities of wa
ter to determine what quantities give
the best results. This work has not
gone far enough to justify conclusions.
but there is every reason to believe
that the duty thus established viii be
much higher than that now secured
even by the more economical farmers,
thereby making possible still further
extension of the area which can b.
reclaimed
To sum up what the department Ct
agriculture is doing to further the
prime object of this congress-the
greatest possible extension of thu area
irrigated.
Our measurements show losses from
main canals and laterals CT more THAI
half the water diverted from streams.
We are studying ways of stopping
these losses. which means a doubling
OF the area which can be reclaimed.
Our measurements of the quantities
CT water used indicate that the duty of
water can b. doubled even under pres
ent methods. We are demonstrating to
farmers that this is true. and studying
means OF inducing them to practice the
economy which will make possible
another doubling Of the area which
can be reclaimed.
We are experimenting with improved
methods and new plants in the hope
that the water requiremets may be still
further reduced. permitting a still
wider extension OF the area which can
ultimately be reclaimed
This great increase in area is pos
sible through the saving of what is
now wasted. But the damage resulting
from losses Of water from canals and
from use of too much water is nor
limited to a reduction in the area re
claimed. The surplus water is actually
reducing the area now farmed by
swamping fertile lands and bringing to
the surface such quantities of alkili as
to kill all useful vegetation. We are
ditions both in this country and n
the older countries where the damage
has been Of long standing. and are
making experiments along the same
line in number of places throughout
the west. We have also employed o
drainage engineer whose entire time is
occupied in advising communities as
to methods and plans for relieving wet
and alkali lands. There is a peculiar
reason why this work should be done
by the government. The water which
ruins a mans farm does not. Il rule.
come from his own wasteful use, but
from some canal over which he has
no control or from lands lying higher
than his own. so that he is in a meas
urs helpless t. prevent the injury. No
Improvement in his own practice can
ward off the damage. For this reason
this work belongs especially to thu
public. just as does the enforcement
OF quarantine regulations.
1t is estimated that about 100000
acres Of land at present under irriga-
ton in the western United States are
lying idle solely because they contain
too much alkali to permit paying crops
being produced. Whenever practicable,
it is advisable to reclaim land of this
character by washing and drainaga.
Nevertheless, in much of this land and
that which may be irrigated in the fu-
ture, the establishment of proper
drainage system could not be profitably
undertaken under existing conditions.
The question. is can anything else be
done with such land?
To answer this query the bureau of
plant industry is endeavoring to secure
crops suitable for cultivation in alkali
soils. Others parts Of the world. where
the alkali problem is a serious one,
are being explored with u view to inl-
porting such OF their useful plants as
endure d large amount of these harm
full salts. As a result, seed of resistant
alfalfa has been obtained from Algeria
and Turl,estan. cotton from Egypt for
trial in the warmer parts of the south
west, and promising varieties Of wheat
and barley from various countries OF
the old world. Resistant fruit trees.
such as the date palm and the pistache
have also been imported.
It is not proposed merely to dis
tribute these things as they are re-
ceived by the department. Plants
breeding methods are being resorted to
in order to fix and. if possible by care
fui selection. increase their alkali re-
sistant qualities. Small tract of alkali
land are being nlanted with the inn
ported seed and from the best i'll
dividuals that survive, seed is taken
for continuing the experiment. Similar
breeding and selection work is in pro-
gress to secure greater alkali resist
ance III our native crops as sugar beet.
alfalfa. etc. In this way we expect to
breed i'll few years alkali resi-
strains of some of the most important
field crops grown in the seni-arid
parts of the west.
In the United States alfalfa does not
Genereily stand more than one-half
per cent OF white alkali' in the upper
six feet of soil. In the cases in the
Sahara desert. a kind has been found
which thriVes in soil containing as
much as one per cent of these salts
in the surface foot. If this alfalfa can
be adapted to American conditions
and retains here its high degree. of
resistance, Il large per cent of the en-
tire 600,GG1 acres OF alkali land already
mentioned could be put into this crop.
In the great increase in irrigated area
which is bOuEd to come in the near fu
1Ilrp work hpCOlrp st