Arizona republican., 1906-02-19
SOME GOOD POINTS
 OF SAHARAN FARMING
Methods Which Night be ProfitabIy
 Applied in Arizona.

tific and practical agriculture in Ari- zona there is probably a great deal more yet to learn than has ever been of acquiring information too and one of them is by the experience of others under similar conditions Republi- can reporter in conference with one who has a scientific knowledge of the subject, was given many valuable points which are herewith presented ff the form of "An Imaginary Interview"
 The reporter has had no interview with any Prof. Kearney, but the facts presented in the alleged interview are from a reliable source:
 Agriculture in the Sahara desert has many suggestions of interest 70 Arizona farmers" So says Prof. T. IL Kearney of the department of agricuI- ture. Prof Kearney has recently made a trip of agricultural exploration in the Sahara desert, Investigating agri- cultural methods under the peculiar climatic conditions there
 At second thought there was no sur prise at Prof Kearney's statement It was remembered that agriculture is as many centuries old in northern Africa as it is years old in southern Arizona It would be strange indeed if the ac- cumulated experience of thousands of years under any particular conditions had not taught the people how to well meet these conditions.
 Your conditions are so much like those of the Sahara desert" continued the professor, that it seems as if the experience of the Arabs might contain many suggestions of interest and value to you in Arizona.
 Take for instance the matter of maturing. Despite irrigation the Arabs have found that their land can not be cropped continuously without having the elements of plant food re- turned to it. Hence it is a regular practice with them to manure the date palms the same as a New England farmer would manure his corn field"
 The application of these remarks was easily seen. People of southern Ari- zOna take satisfaction in remarking the natural fertility of the soils; and such a practice as maturing, even the saving of manure from corraIs, is hardly known It is remembered that in Colorado farmers already have had brought home to them the great ad- vantage in maturing even a naturally fertile and irrigated land; and this af-
  tivation.
 Another reason for applying manure is that the Saharan soils continued the professor, "are naturally very de- ficient in organic matter; and this de- fiency must be supplied"
 Herein also was noted the striking likeness of Saharan soils to those of Arizona. Here we SOW cover crops" was remarked, land turn them under. This has the same effect in adding vegetable matter to the soil and is less expensive"
 Another helpful example from Sa- haran agriculture" said the professor, is Found in the success of the Saharan ag1iculturists in retaining alkali lands. They dig drains three feet deep at frequent intervals and by irrigat- ing; once a week or Oftener. are able to maintain gardens containing varic- ties of plants not particularly resist ant to alkali.
 '"The natives also reclaim land that contains an excessive amount of salts, using, for the purpose water which is strongly alkali. l once saw garden which had been established on the slope of the bed of a salt lake in which alfalfa, various garden vegetables, and a variety of young fruit trees were fIourishing. The reclamation of this piece of land had been accomplished in three years by irrigating twice week during that period"
 The principle of the practice, is the same as that used here in America, namely, the washing or draining of the salts out of the ground. An ex- pertinent in retaining alkali land by drainage is now being carried on at Tempe by the government and it is understood, has already given good results.
 Prof Kearney says that the best au- thorities in Algeria recommend spring blowing for cereals, although this is not generally practiced. Tn Algeria as in Arizona. the custom is to plough in the fall. But spring blowing is better be- cause the soil loses less moisture dur ing the summer fallOw, besides being in excellent condition to absorb the first rain that falls on it in the spring. The surface of the soil should be kept well pulverized at all times when there is no crop on the land. Algerian agri- culturists are simply practicing what in this country is called dry land farming; that is. the ground is allowed to lie fallow for a season and the sur face kept stirred to conserve soil mOis- ture.
 Up to a certain point" continued the professor. "deep blowing is found to have the same effect as rotation and the use of fertilizers. In some places in the desert good cultivation is made to take the place of irritation and ex- cellent crops of cereals and of some fruits and forage plants are produced without artificial water. Some of the blowing is twenty to twenty -four inches deep, a steam blow being used or an ordinary blow followed by subsoiler. This deep blowing is done in establishing market gardens, vine yards and orchards"
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