The Arizona sentinel., 1909-08-05
TIMELY HINTS
FOR FARMERS.
a Lesson In Intensive Farming by
r II. Forbes, Director and
Chemist of Agricultural
Experiment Station
University Of Arizona,
January I5- 1907

flood-plaiii OF the Colorado, lies a little farm
OF ~ acres which on May /, la03, was virgin
bOttOmiand, covered with s;tifWe1d, arrow
brush and creosote bushes. 'ine original
purpose of the tract was for planting selected
varieties of date palms imported by the U. =.
Department of Agriculture from the Old
World. The Ex pertinent station, May 9, be-
gan preparing the ground, and on May 20 the
work Of leveling, bordering and irrigating
the tract and the planting of l52 palms, was
completed
TIE rI.AN OF WORK.
Recognizing, however, that q farmer with
bis living to make meantime, cannot afford
to wait for an orchard TO come into bearing,
it was planned to plant crops for quick re-
turns between the trpe-Tows, thus putting the
wCrR on feasible basis from the small farm
er's point Of view. In order to ecoiromize
ground the irrigating borders were placed
as to coincide with the rows of palms. thus
utilizing space otherwise usually wasted.
The tract was divided by the borders into
lands, for the most part one-haf an acre in
size. lr1fgatinG water from the Colorado
Valley p. & L. Canal was obtained in the cus-
tomary manner, and E. Il. Crane, himself a
Yuma Valley farmer, undertook the care of
what was niGknamed our play farm
In size, rs we'll as in the intensive character
of the work planned, this farm" is the OPP
posite OF the average holdings of this locality.
The prevailing crops of the region are alfalfa,
corn, barley, and forages in general cOmpar;i-
lively little attention being given to vege-
tables and fruits. Withal, the cost OF level!ng
land in this region is high, rarely falling be-
sof labor and teams. Moreover, the cost, eX-
elusive of maintenance, of the Government
irriSating system now under construction
will be about $3.50 an acre annually for ten
years. To meet these and other heavy items
of expense in connection with The establish
ment of a farm in this region, intensive crops
of 81 moro remunefatiVe character than those
aow in vogire, are essential. 1t was partly,
therefore, as an object lesson bearing upoE
these financial aspects Of the general situa-
ton, that this cultural work was planned.
REcLAMATIoS OF THE GROUND.
| The soil Of our tract. a warm, sandy loan
well adopted to gafaeping operations, was
teveled, titched and bOiClered at q contract
pfce of Slf.20 an acre, considerably less than
the average for the locality, reckoning the
labor Of men and teams al current rates. In
addition, barbed wire. and posts for fencing
cost SG0.l0; lu!Eier fO; hcadgstes cost $500;
a drive wFti ECiDt and pipe, q pitcher-spout
pump ana barrel, Sl3.4L q small lumber
lwo-room htSIse, iEcsaiing Fl We and one half
days carpenter hire, S52.75; ard brush-roof
shelter for horses, about S. 90. Only skilled
labor employed in levelling, bordering and
ditching the ground, and FIR Part construc-
ton OF the house, is incladed in the above
estimates, as the common labor required or
dinarily would be, and in thfs case was fur
nished by the farmer himself.
TO bring this ground Gnder cultivation and
make it haSTabte for assmail farmer and his
family, as stated above, therefore required a
cash outlay of about S40010. IN addftion, in
the average instance must be includcd al
team, wagon. PloH. harrow, haying equip
Inent shovefs hoes and other small! fools.
CROPS AND MARKETS.
The crops selected for the season of 1906
1ere Early Rose potatoes, W nite Bermuda
onions. RUckYfCTd can taiOuE pes, Dwarf Cham
pion and Burpee's Quarter Century tomatoes,
and alfalfa besides Il few hills of watermclons
and Sundry vegetables.
The produce was marketed in Yuma with
the exception of Tomatoes, WHICH, for the
largest part were expressed to Tucson and
Bisee. The following statements for the
various crops are on the basis ~ net cash Ie-
turns to the snail farmer, Wigo with all aver
age family OF five and a team of horses is is-
Sumed to DO the work required. as explained
below. Items necesSitating cash outlay, as
seed, irriSaiing water. and crates are deducted
from gross returns. WSter costs an average
of 80 cents for irrigation per acre for the crops
grown The yields in certain DISTANCES are
low, Cue to the Unmproved conTfition of the /
soil, 'fhiclT, like desert soils in zer-idl, was
low in nitrogen and organic matter. Some
small salty areas also affected Yields locally
White Bermuda onions; Al acres; Seed
plant d Sept. 27-Oct. s. 1905 Young ouiohs
transplanted, Feb. SO, 1896. Crop mstured
about .IGne l. Yield, 1915 pounds cf dry on |
ions. Highest pficc received, G1%c Il pound; |
lowest price received, I.Sc' pound. Entire
crop marketed in YttTaa.
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