The Arizona sentinel., 1909-07-22
TIMELY HINTS
FOR FARMERS.
A Lesson in Intensive Fsrming by
K II. Forbes, Director and
Chemist of Agricultural
Experiment Station
University Of Arizona,
January Is, 1857.


1oOd-plain of the Colorado, lies q little farm
OF 10 acres whicI ON May |, 1905, WAs virgin
bOttomland, covered with saltweed, arrow
brush and creosote bushes. The original
purpose of the tract was for planting selected
varieties of date palms imported By the u. X.
Department of Agriculture from the Old
World The Experiment station, May 9 be-
gan preparing the ground, and on May 70 the
work of levelliug, bordering and irrigating
the tract and the planting of l52 palms. was
completed.
TIE PLAN OF WORK.
Recognizing, however, that a farmer with
his living TO make meantime, cannot afford
to wait for an orchard to come into bearing,
il was planned to plant crops for quick re-
turns between the tree-rows, thus putting tnc
work on feasible basis from the small farm
er'S point of view. In order to econoIBfZe
ground the irrigating borders were SO 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-half an acre in
size; Irrigating water from the Colorado
Valley r. & /. Canal was obtained in the GUS
tomary manner and Il. L.. Crane, himself
Yuma Valley farmer, undertook the care Of
what was nicknamed our play farm"
In size, as well as in the intensive character
OF the work planned, this farm" is the op-
positc of the average holdings of THIS locality.
The prevailing crops of the region are alfalfa,
corn, barley and forages i'll general, compare
lively little attention being given to vcge-
tables ami fruits. Withal, the cost of dwelling
land in this region is high, rarely falling be-
for labor and teams. Moreover, the cast, eX-
elusive of maintenance, OF the Government
irri3ating system now under construction
VIII be about $3.50 an acre annually for ten
years. TO meet these and other heavy items
of expense in connection with the establish
nIent of a farm in This region, intensive crops
OF Il more remunerative character than those
now in vogue, are essential. 1t was partly,
therefore, rs an object lesson bearing upon
these financial aspects of the general sitao-
tion, that this cultural work was planned.
RECLAMATION OF TuE, GROUND 49,
Tire soil of our tract, Il warm, sandy loan
we'll adapted to gardening operations, was
levelled, ditched and bort.ered at contract
price OF ~ an acre, considerably less than
the average for the locality, reckoning the
labor Of men and teams at current rates in
addition, barbcd Wire and pests fer fencing
cost 500 iG lumber fo" headgstcs cost s3s.!J7;
drive we'll point and pipe, Il p.tcher-spout
pump and barrel, Sl3i5; q small lumber
two-rooln house, inCledlng five and one half
days carpenter hive, $l52 10; and u brush-roOf
shelter for horses. about s. co. Only skilled
labor employed in Ievefiing, bordering and
ditching the ground, and for part cOnstfae-
ton OF the house, is Included in the above
estimates, rs the common labor required or
dinarly would be, ard in this case was, fur
nished by the farmer himself
TO bring this ground under cultivation and
make II habftabe fer small farmer and bic
family, IT'S stated above, theref0TJ. required Il
cash outlay of abopt SfO300. In addition, in
the average instance must be Included a
team, wasos, .plow. haryoGs. hsSf1g equip
mert shoveis hoes and other small tools.
CROPS AED M6RKEFS.
The crops selected for the season OF 1896
we've Early Rose potatoes, White Bermuda
onions. ltOckyford cantaioupss Dwarf Cham
piOR and BUrQcc's Quarter century tomatoes, |
and ss4fslf;i, besides few hills Of watcrme!ons
and sUDdry vegetables.
The produce was marketed in Yuma with
the exception of tomatoes, which, for the |
largest part, were expressed to Tucson and |
BisbSe The following statements for tfac |
various crops are on the basis of net cash le- |
turifs tu tile small farmer who with al. aver
age family Of five and team of horses is as |
sGmed to do he work required. as explained |
below. Items pCceSSitating cash oCtlay, rs |
seed, irrie3tihg water. and crates are deducted |
from gross returns Water costs an average |
OF 30 cents for irrigation per acre for the crops
grown. The yields in certain Instances are |
low, Cue to the unimpTovpd condition of the |
soil, which, like desert soils in gel:-idl, was |
low in nitrogen aEd organic matter Some |
small salty areas also affected Yields locally |
White bermuda onions; ~ acres; SEES. |
plaYs~d Sept. 27-Oct B, 1868. Young onions |
trans spanted, Feb. SO, 1906. Crop matured |
about June /. Yield, 39l5 pounds Of dry on
ions. Highest price received, 2lac n pound;
lowest price received, 1.Sc d pound. Entise !
crop marketed in Talna.
Cash Cash