Graham guardian., 1910-11-25
RATES OF LEGAL ADVERTISING
NOVEMBER rs, 1910.
ADD NEW CROPS


For some time past it has become
apparent to the people of the Gila
valley that other crops beside alfalfa
must be cultivated by our farmers
if success in farming is to be OBJ
tanned.
The question of adding new crops
has been seriously considered by
many of our valley farmers, es-
pecially those cultivating land in the
Artesian Belt, where water is scarce
and successful farming is hard to
accomplish.
In the valley, where water for ir-
rigation purposes is secured from
the Gila river, there is generally
enough water to supply the demand
needed for raising alfalfa, wheat
and barley, especially on the south
side of the river; the north side not
having as much water at times as is
needed for irrigation.
In the Artesian Belt, where the
farmer must depend on the water
supply from wells, the water ques-
tion has an important bearing on
the question of what crops can be
raised successfully with present
water supply, which is not sufficient
to irrigate any large acreage like
that accomplished on lands irrigated
by water from the Gila river.
In the valley proper there is no
doubt whatever in the minds of
those who have studied the situa-
ton, that crops other than alfalfa
can be raised, which would bring
better financial results to the far
mer at the close of the season, and
the reason for this lies in the fact
that water is plentiful for irrigation
purposes, so that more land could
be devoted to orchards and the
raising of vegetables.
Several years ago it was contend
ed by the farmers that vegetables
could not be successfully grown on
valley lands, because of tailings
from the mills at Clifton and Mo-
renci leaving a deposit on the lands
that formed hard crust and de-
stroyed the vegetable growth.
Since then, the mining companies
have taken better care of the tail
ings from the mills, and at the
present time the water is practically
clear and can be kept 50, which
makes it possible for the valley far
mer to devote at least some of his
land to orchards and to the grow
ing of vegetables or other crops.
This being true, the question
arises, what other crops besides al
falfa should be raised?
One answer to this question ap-
pears in a communication from an
experienced cotton man. which we
publish in another column. In this
we find a good ar
gument for growing cotton, thus
adding a new crop that will insure
good financial returns.
Instances are related of the ex-
periments in cotton raising in the
Artesian Belt by several farmers,
who have cultivated the cotton
plant in Arkansas and Texas. which
prove conclusively that the cotton
plant can be successfully cultivated |
in this valley.
The fact that cotton does not |
need 30 much water as alfalfa or
other crops, seem to emphasize the
that it can be grown sue
,essfully in the Artesian Belt, where
water is scarce, and also in the val
ey, where water is plentiful, and
enough spared for irrigating the
plants.
One argument that has been
made against the growing of cotton
n this valley, is the cost of labor.
his is answered very clearly that
he same wages paid in Arkansas
md Texas can be paid here. and
his being true, 1t will give employ