Graham guardian., 1905-03-03

OF the area is careful and lntelll-
gent, but there are many instances
of waseful and slovenly methods.
| The cultivation has changed grad
ually from an extensive to more
intensive system, with decrease
in the eize of farms and the wider
introduction ofirrigation. In some
cases an incongruous mixture of
the two systems is seen, the most
frequent deficiency being in the
matter of the preparation of the
land. Where grain is grown the
plowing often consists of merely
scratching the surface of the soil
with a harrow. Upon the lighter
soils, following corn or some other
closely cultivated crop, this might
be sufficient, but in the heavier
soils the seeding of grain upon al
falfa stubble or pasture land in this
manner is a mere makeshift such
as deserves no place under any
system of agriculture. Deficient
preparation and cultivation rem
ders the soil compact and increases
evaporation and the accumulation
of alkalI, makes it difficult of aera-
ton and root penetration, and
binders the formation of plant food.
More care is often taken in
harvesting and marketing the crop
than In raising it. Alfalfa is the
principal crop of the valley Three
and sometimes four cuttings are
obtained, yielding from four to six
tons per acre. This is usually
baled and shipped out Of the area,
+, bringing about $40 ton loaded,
on the cars. The cost of cutting,
stacking and baling should not
exceed 50 a ton, and the bay will
usually bring S. a ton in the stack.
Corn, wheat, and barley are also
important crops in this area. Corn
is usually planted in midsummer
and harvested in October, and fire.
quently follows crop of wheat or
barley In favorable seasons
wheat yield from 80 to 40 bushels
per acre and there is good de-
: maud for the grain at fairly high
prices for local milling purposes.
The old established Sonora variety
is generally grown and is sown
late in the season. The White
Russian variety is grown to some
extent and is sown in the early
fall. The former variety is, how
ever, most commonly raised, be-
ing more resistant to drought
The grain is of good weight and
makes excellent flour.
The use of commercial fertilizers
: is very limited: the use of stable
and green manures is common, but
) might be greatly extended with
beneficial results. The rotation OF
crops receives much less attention
than it should.
Irrigation of the grains and
alfalfa is mainly by flooding in
rectangular or contour checks
Irrigation Immediately after seed
ing is usually avoided when the
water carries much sediment, as
this sometimes forms a close, COM
pact layer over the seed bed,
through which the young plants
make their way with difficulty.
The fruits, vegetables, and similar
crops are irrigated by the furrow
method. With this method the
alkali salts have tendency to ac-
cumulate in the elevations over
: which the water does not 6ow
Irrigation by flooding, coupled
with artificial drainage when
necessary, and deep and frequent
blowing and cultivation. should be
the general practice.
AGRICULTURAL CONDITIONS.
: The farming class Of the Gila
valley is made up of Americans
and Mexicans, possessing various
, degrees of intelligence, education,
: ambition, and knowledge of agri.
culture 1t is thus but natural
that there should be varying de-
f grees of success and prosperity.
In farming, as well as in business
enterprises throughout the valley,
there have been many failures.
This has in both cases resulted
r from overstocking, lack of intelli-
F gent direction, indiscreet specula
tion, endeavor to promote pros
, perity by indulging in "boom"
methods, and the imitation of val
ues, or the want of persistent effort
Many of the oldest settlers have
left the area to make their homes
in other parts of the country, but
this has not always been from
failure or dissatisfaction.
Al present the agricultural in
dustry is making natural if slow
growth, and the agricultural class.
es may be said, upon the whole,
{ to be in prosperous state.
The farms usually contain l6O
acres or less. In the more thickly
settled parts of the area, especially
in the Mormon settlements, small
, farms and intensive cultivation are
the rule. Here farm Of 40 acres
is considered large. But few farms
nre rentnd A rnmnrknhle free.