Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1904-12-17

that In one years work all the impor-
tant and complicated questions relating
10 the best soil and plant treatment
have been solved. IL Will take a NUM-
bor Of years Of careful experimentation
before the whole matter can be aaid to
have been put TO satisfactory test.
However, In the minds Of those who
have given this subject careful intel
ligent attention, there is no doubt but
that, as the experiments progress, man
VIII obtain a greater power over the
deserts and the plants that he desires
TO grow there. until at last by the ap-
pllcatlon Of the principles Of science 10
this problem, he VIII compel plants.
perhaps Of every kind. to grow and
prosper upon our sagebrush deserts
without the application OF Irrigation
water To be sure some crops will ba
more profitable than others Sugar
beets, for instance, though they may
be made 20 grow without irrigation,
VIII probably never be a profitable crop
on an arid farm Wheat, corn and oats,
on the other hand, may perhaps be 80
modified by successive generations OF
growth without irrigation that they will
Yield magnificent returns TO the farmer
for the time. labor and energy invest
cd.
There are strong indications that crops
grown without irrigation ON our deserts
viii surpass In quality the crops grown
without irrigation IN humid climates.
This question. too needs 10 be investi-
gated. for can II be proved, for in
stance, that the wheat from our arid
farms yields a better and more nutrl-
Gus -four than that now on the market,
81 viii increase proportionately the
profit OF the man who attempts to grow
crops without irrigation.
WILL MAKE BETTER FARMERS.
Above all, arid farming, II once de-
veloped, will lead to careful, systems
attic farming operations, This will re-
act upon all the agricultural practlses
OF the state and assist In Develop
ing better farmers. IL Is fresh In eY-
erybodys memory how the sugar beet
industry educated our farmers az had
no other single force up to the present.
Arid farming. which means an lntelli-
gent battle with adverse conditions
will develop our farmers similarly,
THE EXPERIMENTAL FARMS.
The farms now established by the
state should by all means be continued
for a period OF years 20 come. The
problem before them Is OF great magni-
tude; the questions that these farms
may solve increase immensely the
wealth OF this state. The discoveries
that may be made IN the investigations
will be a benefit not only 10 the arid
farmer but to the irrigation farmer as
well. The state should obtain intelli-
gent knowledge of IFS vast domain OF
desert lands Not only do these farms
concern themselves with the deserts,
taius also. Shall our destroyed noun
tain ranges be covered with grass
again? How shall IL be done2 What
grasses viii be used? Shall we cover
our mountains with forests to take the
place Of those destroyed by the early
logging? win the Introduction OF steam
machinery lead 60 the profitable cult
walton of areas where the low rainfall
would make horse labor unprofltableY
In the successful prosecution Of the
work OF the experimental farms. these
questions OF fundamental Importance 10
the state may find their solution. To
the lover Of the state. the true citizen,
such questions appeal with strength.
We cannot AFFORD 10 ignore them or 70
overlook them on 20 postpone them. Tho
coming generation viii have enough to
do anyway We are told that among
the FIRST promises made by the Lord to
the first man was the one that no
should have dominion over the eartn.
No one can accuse us OF having domin-
ion over the deserts. They lie before
US, vast, useless, tantalzing, 1t Is for
US 90 secure dominion over Them II il
not impossible, Nothing Is impossible
today.