El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1910-10-01
Practical Irrigation In New Mexico
by National Irrigation
gress Pueblo
gTess at Pueblo


young alfalfa, when irrigated for the
first time, will be drowned out, espe-
cially if the water is very muddy, such
as is often the case along the Rio
Grande as the sediment brought down
by the waters covers the young plant,
or during the warm summer days, the
water standing in these hollow places,
scalds and kills the young plant.
And again in high places, the water
does not flood and soak in sufficiently
to leave moisture to terminate the
seed, or fails to give the young plant
sufficient yigor to resist the encroach-
ments of the active grasses. which is
always prevalent in all irrigated
fields.
This also is applicable to old al
falfa fields, where even though a good
stand is not on a level field, will in
time be partially destroyed, either by
drowning out, or by the native grass
For other crops, such as corn and
beans, this perfect leveling is not so
essential, though field once perfectly
levelled will always yield better and
more profitable crop and cost the
farmer less in irrigation.
Economical Use of Water.
The economical use of water in the
Rio Grande valley of southern New
Mexico and Texas is becoming a very
important factor in present day farm
! ing, a properly prepared field will con-
sumo just as much water as is abso-
! lutely necessary, and it will be found
after a thorough irrigation, followed
by surface cultivation, that the moist
ure is retained twice as long as in a
carelessly prepared and recklessly ir.
rigated field
1t has been proved times without num-
Der that too frequent irrigation is not
only wasteful and expensive but detri-
mental to the soil.
1t has been demonstrated very clear
~ in late years that the unprogressive
farmer who persists in clinging to OBJ
solete and reckless methods of farm
ing, is not only failure but is dan
ger if not a menace to the success Of
those around him. Scientific and intel
ligent methods of farming in all it's
branches is the only hope Of the fut-
ure for our irrigation districts
In the upper and lower Mesilla val
ley of New Mexico and Texas, scientific
and intensive farming can be AMI are
| being done with remarkable success.
The soil is of a more productive char
acter and Surpasses in richness even
those wonderful valleys of the famous
western province of South Africa.
known as the Breederiver and the Koff-
mans-Kl valleys, where the speak err
was born and reared. In those valleys,
irrigated lands are considered cheap at
$1,000 an acre.
With our national government ex
tending helping hand to this arid
west, building extensive reservoirs I'M
der the able direction of our recIama-
ton service with its grand and mag
nificent scope, hundreds of thousands
of acres of waste land are being re-
claimed. which without irrigation is
absolutely worthless. Homes are being
created for our American farmers. who
with an assured water supply on 10
or 20 acre farm, conducted intelligent
ly, and farmed intensely will not only
be enabled Ito make a good living, but
viii become independent in a few years
Small Farms Sufficient.
l believe that 10 or 20 acre farm
under irrigation will take all the time
of a single farmer, and that If a larger
tract of land is attempted to be farmed.
it is only possible to raise such crops
as alfalfa and grain, and the more
profitable crops, such as cantaloupes,
onions, celery. and garden truck are
neglected.
With the completion of the great
Elephant Butte dam, New Mexico and
Texas are going to provide homes for
! the thousands of men and women now
] eking out miserable existence In the
! over crowded cities
j. l wish to emphasize that an irrigated
I farm is no place for the good-for- 10th
1 ing-elSe fellow or the Weary Willie.
( The back to the farm sentiment is all
! rfght,sr'but back to the irrigated farm .
there should be added that energy and
! Intelligence must be taken along, 9TH
! erwise a failure is as sure as the sun
rises in the east.
This is no discouragem to those
| who propose to attempt the irrigation
farm, but a warning that Just as in al