El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1910-07-09

: account of the scarcity of water which
taught the farmers how to grow crops
with limited supply and not TO let ir-
rgatiOn take the place of cultivation.
Too much water teaches the soil,
forces out the air and interfereS with
the micrO-O organisms that assist the
crops in obtaining their food supply.
Larger yields per acre are possible
where the ground is not kept too wet
and cultivated after every irrigation.
Underground Waters and AIkaIi.
In the old world numrOuS irrigation
enterprises have been ruined through
the rise of underground waters and
of alkaH- Too much irrigation fills
the soil with water and the evapOIa-
ton Of the water which carries the
alkali in solution leaves it at or near
the surface. Natural or artificial
drainage viii remove the excessive
collection of water in the soil and in
! a way counterfeit the evils of too much
irrigation. The use of an excess of
water on high ground may not only
injUre the farmer who applies the wa
ter. but the ones on lower adjacent
lands as well.
Drainage is the one certain remedy
for alkaH difficulties. Where drainage
I cannot be practiced and alkaH occurs
only in spots, temporary relief may be
/ secured by using but little irrigation
| water TO wash the salts into the soil
and then filling thoroughly TO cut off
/ the capillary movement Of the mois-
I ture.
The native vegetation is often a good
indication Of the presence of aIkaH,
! and the experienced observer can tell
whether irrigation is apt 70 develop al
/ kali troubles The creOsOte bush in the
! lower Colorado river valley is taken as
| evidence that the land is fairly free
/ from alkaH, and in the Great Basin
/ the 'greasewOod indicates that alkaIi
| troubles are not improbable
] In going into a new region, il is we'll
! TO inquire about Indicator plants, to
note the depth and quality OF water in
! wells and drainage channels. and to
4 note whether there are any pro-
nOUnced topographic features connected
| with the pieceNOf land in view. In some
of the western valleys there are svries
| of benches above the valley proper,
| and in cases the lower places have
/ been swamped by the salt bea ring
| seepage from above
Community Life and Cooperation.
/ In irrigation communities the farms
are smaller, the homes closer together,
and land values are higher. and roads
! and schools are consequently \better.
The community interests are different
| from those in humid regions, the very
| existence Of the community depending
| upon water supply shared by the
settlers in common. The members find
| it to their advantage TO consider prob
| lens from the community stand point
rather than from that of the individ-
I ual.
There are many cooperative features
/ in irrigation communities, such "a
ditch construction and maintenance,
purchase OF supplies, associations for
marketing produce and manufacturing
| enterprises, such as butter and beet su-
| gar factories.
An effective system OF inspection Of
all nursery stock brought into irrfga-
ton communities is one way of avoid
! ing dangers that are apt to occur. The
fact that. the system of farming is
| usually intensive and specialized causes
| the problems OF insect pests and plant
diseases TO be most acute.
| Cooperative work in marketing prod
uce accounts for much of the prosper
ity in western communities Coopera-
i ton has been used to produce economy
Of effort and to maintain a high stand
ard Of quality.
Markets and TRANSPORTATION.
On account of the distance from mar
ket of most OF our irrigated lands the
crops produced must be rather high
priced and concentrated The crops first
grown on the farm, such as grain and
forage crops, cannot bear high trans
, pOrtatiOn charges, and periShabIe crops.
like tomatoes and cantaIoupes, involve
| large risks. Potatoes and onions are
! revenue producing crops that are less
| perishable-
1t is wise to plan and equip new
| irrigation farm in a new region so that
it will produce as much as possible Of
| the food required Consequently, live
! stock and poultry should % considered
and vegetables should take their place
alongside of the grain and hay II the
| system of farm mana cement II sup
plies for home consumption come off
of the farm, living expenses may be
kept down until a market is assured
and 1t is safe to specialize.