The Roswell daily record. [volume] (Roswell, N.M.) 1903-current, 1907-09-18
From The Earth (Chicago.)

From The Earth (Chicago.)
The writer was raised in one of the
great agricultural states of the U1ion,
but came to New Mexico in 1886, full
of the common prejudice against any
sort of farming except where Nature
furnished moisture through the rain
fall, and without any knowledge of
the advantages of soil culture by rea-
son of artificial application of water.
With such prejudices deep seated, L
was hardly willing to listen to the
methods of crop growing in the arid
country under irrigation systems. But
after twenty years residence in the
Pecos Valley of New Mexico, and with
more practical experience with soil
culture and crop growing by the arti-
fetal use of water, aided by consider
able observation of results, 1 have
long since abandoned my early preju-
dices and am now ready to declare,
as the result of my experience and
observations. that | would not own
and operate a farm in the humid Sec
tion of the United States.
Farming by irrigation means in
tense and better cultivation of soil
and in every way better results in the
products of the soil. 1t means better
methods: the result and advantage
of farming under irrigation, as COM
pared with advantages of farming in
the rain section, is about three to one
in favor of irrigation. I am now, of
course, considering scientific irriga-
ton and cultivation by reason there
of, and when the best methods are
used, the result is, that one acre of
irrigated land will produce an amount
in dollars and cents equal to three
acres of the best land in the rain re-
gion of the country.
We will take as an example alfalfa
growing. 1t is true that in some sec
tions where irrigation is not practiced
as a system, this crop is grown with
more or less success, but there are
many regions of the rain section
where alfalfa is not and cannot be
grown although other crops are quite
successfully grown. This crop of al
falfa can only be grown, with the very
best results, in region where it is
necessary to apply water artifcially
If there was no other crop and no
otner argument made in favor of irri-
CATION as against farming in the rain
section, the alfalfa crop and its very
great value would be sufficient to de-
dermine the advantages in favor of
farming by Irrigation rather than de-
pending upon rainfall
The farmers in the Pecos Valley
caf from four to five crops of alfalfa
annually and usually Craze one addi-
fional crop The first two crops of al
faifa for 1907 in the Pecos Valley with
number of the farmers will net
them s35 an acre. and they nave yet
from two to three crops TO harvest.
This statement is made with the
knowledge that very cold spring
and early summer resulted in an ex-
tremely light crop at the first cutting.
The real value of alfalfa as food
product for stock IS just now being
understood. It is the most certain
cF0U plOuuC0Q III Tie OttAACd NtdbCS,
certain as to quality and as to guam
fity. If taken care OF, and mas fewer
enemies than any crop known among
farmers. There are fields of alfalfa
now being cut at Roswell that are
known by the writer to be twenty-five
years since the sowing, and may con-
finne another TWENTY-FIVE years with
out being resolved The only danger
Is too heavy pasturage. This long life
Of the plant Is certainly not possible
in IN rain belt. To have it produce four
aad six crops year needs careful
handling and attention, but there is
no easier crop than alfalfa produced
in the Pecos Valley. That one alone
viii make It one of the greatest farm
fne sections and one of the richest
agricultural regions i'm the West.
we might 30 into the fruit product
Is ne Pecos Valley under irrigation.
We win take the little item Of straw
BERRIES this year two good crops
hare been produced on the same
4ines. tne seeond crop baAter than the
HH4t as tp th4 nmaaaty of 49, berry.
arsd fhe seasua runnins from tne 18TH
~ xpri1 until 3fter TIE first q August
nel<.n< the grower about $500 "a &c