The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-10-06


western Texas there is still much unoc-
cupied land. Some Of it has an ample
supply of water, but there are many Sec
tions where irrigation from rivers or
artesian wells must be resorted to in or
der to furnish the necessary moisture
for crops, fruits or vegetables. and this
has proved to be an ideal method TO:
scientific farming. -r2.. r...:
Redemption Of Pecos Valley.
The results obtained from cultivation
of the soil under irrigation in the Pecos
valley have placed that region beyond
the stage Of experiment into the front
rank Of desirable fruit and vegetable
thing that can be desired, the winters
are very mild and yet the temperature
at times drops to the freezing point, so
that ice is formed the spring comes
into late fall. The elevation of the
Pecos valley is about 2,700 to 5000, feet
above the sea level, so the excessive
heat Of the summer Is not to be feared.
The air is clear, dry and invigorat1ng.
: The soil is very fertile and easily
worked. Beneath the alluvial deposit,
which is rich in plant food, is subsoil
of clay, alternating with sand and occa-
sanally gravel. This combination is
most favorable for agricultural purposes
WITCH IL i1S ZIG plopel supply VI AioiS
ture. -. 4
Already a number of irrigation systems
have been put into operation in the Pecos
valley and the results have been most
gratifying. The rone <>Barstow is an
excellent example of what can be done
| about fifteeA miles above the city was
| selected. ere the conditions Of the
river bed were such that it was necessary
to build. only small, inexpensive dam
and dig a short ditch, in order to take
| the water out on the west side, from
whence it is fumed over to the lands
| surrounding Barstow. The place where
| the water Is brought back to the river
| lies about twelve miles south of the city
| There are in all about 10000 acres Of
| good, tillable land under the ditch. an6
| the reports of the federal government
| obtained from accurate observations Of
the river gauge, which was placed by
| the authorities at the station located al
| the supply of water is more than suffi-
cient to irrigate the entire tract, although
only about 5000 acres are under cultiva-
ton at the present time. :
Work of the Government.
The prospects Of this section of the
PecOS valley are so promising that the
! federal government has selected BarstoN
| for the erection Of a new experiment sta
| ton, where skilled men will test the
growth Of various crops to discover just
! what grains, fruits and vegetables are
| best adapted to the soil and climate, anc
what are the most economic and effective
| methods of using the abundant supply
| of water which can be secured from the
| tract through the main canal and the
| laterals. 49,
! That the Pecos valley has a great fu-
| ture before it as a fruit growing section
there can no longer be the least shadow
of a doubt, for all experiments along
these lines have met with the mos1
marvellous success The famous Rocky
near Barstow, rival those from Colorado
! in richness and delicacy of flavor; in fact
t they have been pronounced by some ex-
| perts to be superior to the. Colorado
product The yield is abundant and the
profit ranges from $50 to $500 per acre
Barstow has direct railroad communities
ton with the Eastern markets, so the
melons and all other products can be
shipped without delay and without ex-
| orbitant freight charges.
| Phenomenal success has also been at.
tanned in the growth of fine grapes. sucf
as the tOkay, muScat, malaga and cor
| nishman. The largest vineyard in this
district contains 100 acres of bearing
crates, which bring about $1.25 per crate
At the st. Louis exposition grapes grown
| in Ward county, near Barstow, were pro
nounced superior in flavor to those of any
| other state ana attraCted the 'attentlOI
| Of pe-growers from all over the Soutf
and even from famed California.
| Peaches and Pears Thrive.
Peaches, especially the high-grade FL
berta variety, and pears thrive amazing
| ly in the soil of this region, and man.
young trees are being grown by mel
skilled in the cultivation of both o
these fruits, and they are expecting t.
reap large incomes from these orchard
in a few years. .~-.s = -
/ Cotton is the largest crop of this sec
ton at present, there being about $50
acres devoted to it's cultivation. In in
stances where fine, improved seed ha
been used cotton has been raised wit
I a staple from an inch and a quarter t
one and a half in length, which makes
very desirable for the manufacture Q
thread. ID The yield is always excellent
for moisture can be supplied at JUS
the proper time and in the needed amour
to insure good crop.
| There are about 400 acres planted wit
alfalfa and it grows most luxuriantl,
yielding on the average five cuttings {
one ton per acre for each cutting, so tina
the net profit can be reckoned at abou
SO per ton. >
Raw lands in the Pecos valley can b