Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1909-10-03
Dry Farming in
NeW Mexico
Continued from Page 1, Oh. 81

the New Mexico lands as has been the
case il the early settlement of all new
countries. These are the spectators
and the farmers The spectators are
those who file with the intention Of
making as few improvements as abso-
lutely required, staying on the claims
as little rs possible, committing as
soon as their time is up and then
going elsewhere to live and continuing
to hold the land for the possible rise
in price which viii come through the
efforts Of those who file on the lane
with the object Of making a home
and obtaining a living from the soil.
Persons travelling by all over the ter
ritOry cannot form Il very fair Opin-
ion of the amount of land under cul-
tivation nor Of the condition of the
crops. especially in the newer sections.
because the greater part of the land
along the railroads and adjacent to
the towns was filed ON by the sptcu-
lative element and their nca rcla-
tives who are those who. having filed
on homesteadS, are devoting their
time and best energies to business in
town and making the farm a secon-
dairy matter. To succeed ON a dry
farm viii require al of a mans time
and energies and the development OF
the farm and income derived from 1t
are apt to be in proportion to what is
put into it. Usually II little is put
into the farm little will be gotten
from it. To find the greatest proper
ton Of bona fide farmer homcsteaders
one must get away from the railroad
and they will be found as far away as
forty and fifty miles. Many of the
farmers have come with their cars
well filled with livestock. implements
and household goods. With sufficient
money at their disposal to erect COM
Portable homes. sufficient shelter for
their stock and to carry them through
the first year whether it be good or
bad.
The writer believes from observa-
tion that IS or more per cent have
not come thus we'll equipped aud their
equipment has varied down to that OF
the man with barely enough money to
pay his filing fee.
Fully 80 per cent OF those who are
developing their claims ave had to
work away from home for Il part OF
the year to obtain money FOR putting
up their shacks. fences and other i'm
provcments as wen as to live on be
tween crops. The fact that many have
come with so little does not speak
well for their thrift in former years
and in other localities and it is only
under exceptionally favorable condi-
tons tina they could be expected to
accumulate property very rapidly
These people are the first TO feel the
effects Of dry years and whether they
can make more than an existence here
remains TO be seen.
The earliest dry farming settle
were in Roosevelt county in the
vicinity of Portales and TeXico and
were made less than ten years ago
There have been two ~unfaVorablc sea-
sons in his locality in that time, in
Guiding the present one. and there
has been considerable coming and GO
ing among the people, but to IN
who was there in the early days of
settlement and o returns tho
change is very marked. Many good
houses have replaced the original
shacks, many old houses have been
enlarged. sheds and barns have been
built, wind mills erected and best of
all the trees planted arc beginning to
show on the landscape and the whole
effect is one of solidity and prosperity.
With a distance of over 300 miles
between the northern and southern To-
and of nearly 200 miles be
the eastern and western local.
ties in which dry farming is being
carried on. we may expect an m
favorable season in some district Of
greater or less extent every year. Thif
IS due to the Irregular distribution OF
tho rainfall in New Mexico both as To-
time and mou ana to the occur
of local showers confined t.
limited areas rather than gcn-
craI rains Of wide extent. This was
illustrated last season 10y drought in
Quay county while the adjacent
Roosevelt, had a good season
This year quay had a favorable sen
while In Roosevelt spots and belts
a favorable amount Of rain
but the county as a whole was dry.
The first question which confronted
the settlers WAS What can We grow ~
This has been fairly Wen settled In a
way and the principal crops
the districts have been found to hc
controlled chiefly by the climatic con-
which are in turn principally
governed by altitude.
Tho Question now confronting them
Is How can we grow the crops os-