The Jersey City news., 1906-07-02
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MONDAY. JULY 2. 1906.

the Hope of the West" an article in the
current Century by Mr. John L. Cowan
calls attention to farming possibilities in
the vast stretch of semi-arid regions of
the United States says the Newark
sEvening News" These. it is claimed,
by virture of practise, which has passed
mere experiment, can be made through
scientific tillage to yield bountiful corps
mrpassing even the harvests produced
nnder the normal conditions of rain and
regarded as the only salvation of tilth
in regions where there is deficient
rainfall. The legislative interest taken
by Congress in giving national aid to
irrigation opened the public eye as to the
larger possibilities of reclamation OF
lhe sphere of rich agricultural resources.
But the extent of land where irrigation
is practicable. as estimated by Mr. Co
wan, is only about 100000 acres.
Were this the only method of utilizing
our putative land waste, as there are
upward of a thousand million acres in
what is classed as arid America" it
would enable My mere patch of re-
clamation
Contrary to commonly accepted
ideas" Mr.. Cowan proceeds to say. as
the statement may be it is nevertheless
an empty demonstrated fact that when
ever in this great arid empire the annual
rainfall averages as hibh as twelve
inches, as good crops can be raised with
out irrigation as with it." This means
that almost every acre between the Mis-
souri, River and the Rocky Mountains
and in the inter mountain parks and
plateaus between the Rockies and the
Pacific can be made to produce as abun-
dainty as the richest prairie lands of the
Middle West Mr.. Cowan's estimate is
fhat at least 500,0O0000 acres can be
made to yield thus abundantly by dry
farming, as it is dubbed.
What then are the principles under
which land with a rainfall of twelve
inches can be made to produce as ex-
nberantly as the luchest alluvium with
twice that average rainfall? 1t must be
always borne in mind, il may be said,
that at least half our ordinary rain vol
nme is eyaporated or runs off into
brooks and streams without much bene-
6t to the ground. The answer to the
question asked lies in a summary of the
process in question.
The surface of the cultivated land is
kept loose and finely pulyerized. This
sell mulch permits the rains and melt
Ing SHOWS to percolate through to the
eompacted soil underneath. Secondly,
tine subsoil finely pulverized and firmly
eompacted greatly increases IT'S water
holding capacity and capillary attract
ion. 1t is kept in the best possible con-
the deyelopement Of their roots. Thus
Water is stored not in reservoirs and
aams. but exactly where it is most need
ed for the growing crops Such scienti-
&c soil sculture. known as the Campbell
system, is a laborions process. to be sure
demanding constant vigilance in keeping
the surface mulch in proper condition,
but its rewards are more than compen-
aation. Crops Of from thirty-6ve TO
fifty-six bushels of wheat to the acre.
with half the seed otherwise used. and
other crops in proportion, are reported
on all those farms where the Campbell
system has been carefully tested.
Space forbids anything but the gist Of
fhe remarkable propositions outlined.
But allowing for enthusiasm, these ap-
pear to offer reasonable solution Of the
sature # the arid region. It can ae