The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-09-08

Cause OF High FIlCeS.
Manufactures Increased and prosPeteu
Gauge food was cheaper In our country @
than In any other with %hlcn we I'LL gu,
peted. Food Is cheap no longer 5p dIpu
iation has increased faster than produc
ton from the soil. new soil gwen
to all who desired was the basis OF our
past prosperity The soils OF our J olaeI
In the east and in the south; they mao
little or no attention. Railways were
pushed into the Mississippi valley. Where
tho gIaciated soils were so rich; so easny
cultivated, and supposed to be iheM
haustible. The government policy OF CIV,
ing farms TO the people mas ehnaus{{eu USE,
the supply In the regions wnere faIu-
fall usually assures good crops, me
mountain ranges hold the snow ana some
valley lands are being irrigated vince
yield abundantly. but only a small PEI
cent OF land west of the Tooth meridian
is being irrigated So we have tound
our limitations. Bread and meat are SO
the necessity OF increasing compensation
that people may live.
Since the civil WAR heavy expectations
from the farms have paid foreign debit
and kept the balance OF trade In our fa-
vor Expectations from the farm are
steadily falling of. both OF meats and
year but not enough to feed our increas-
Ing population and keep up our exports
The federal government is expending
large sums TO irrIgatc more land, which
Is wise. hut the amount of water I'M
pounded is small compared with the vol
ume that flows TO waste In Il recent
visit TO the mountain states / saw that
the most advanced localities are every
year making more reservoirs to hold win
ter and spring flows of waters that go
free OF mans restraint TO the ocean. The
have ample fields In which 10 work
toward greater crop production In this
direction.
Much Land Yet Wasted.
The lands Of the mountain states are
with little exception very rich In plant
food. and while water continues TO es-
cape in such large quantities II will pay
TO turn 1t on these lands and reap
the heavy crops that certainly follow.
After all the lands are irrigated that can
be. practically immense areas remain that
lie above gravity Irrigation. Efforts are
being made by the federal government,
the states, private companies and indt-
viduals TO grow crops on the high lying
lands that have eighteen inches OF an
nual rainfall and less.
The department OF agriculture, In obe-
oience to congressional requirement. Is
exploring similar lands that exist under
world. Some success Is being had. a
wheat from Africa and Asia gives us
60,0o0.000 bushels q year from the high
lying light rainfall states: n grass and
alfalfa from Turkestan alfalfas. clovers
and vetches. from Siberia; oats from
northern Sweden; milets from the Ori-
ent: sorghum from Africa. are samples
OF what are being found by our explor-
ers that thrive on our highlands of the
west.
At thirteen stations In seven states we
have parties OF scientists studying meth
DDS of plant management on our dry
lands. II our growth In population Is 10
continue we must look to the soil and
conserve moisture. which is the trans
adding water beyond what falls from the
clouds, IT Is practical to greatly increase
crop fields by better soil management
and adding fertilizIng material that we
furnish nitrogenous mill feeds 10 thrifty
foreigners who know their value to feed |
their cattle. to make meats and dairy |
products, and keep up the fertility OF
their soils. These should be fed on the |
farms that grow the grain from which !
they are made. New lands are not to |
be had for the asking in the thirty-inch |
rainfall districts Of the country II we |
are to prosper as people we must give
close attention to our soils and conserve |
their fertility by all the means In our
power.
Follow European Plan.
Our lighter soils are affected by
drougts that extend over periods during
mum crops are not secured. We will In
time find 1t necessary to follow the ex-
ample set by European countries of
tense te Sc, a population. Of building reservoirs
during times Of drouth. These reservoirs
are built from the sources OF their rivers
On down toward their mouths We can
10 this with great profit in some OF our
states now
The office OF water in growing plants
IS corprehended when we realize that
rom 900 TO 500 pounds Of water are re-
luired by the plant to enable IL to make
'ne pound of dry matter and that n
shock OF corn standing In the field for
weeks after 1t is cut has from 25 10 20
per cent OF moisture
Something Is being done to incraaee
ne volume OF our crops In all sections
u our country. The cattle fever tick of
ne nes,sc,it south HI has prevented the prontable
'roauction or beef In that section of our
'ountry Congress has provided for Inc
determination Of the pest, which Is being
lone; 10000 square miles is now free
rom re It This Will bring into active pro-
southern. states: pastures Will be pre-
Jared; the prime element In n system
u 'i,,, rotation Of crops. cotton seed meal
ou,,on Fnm De iea where 1t is produced. and
Productive helping to feed our growing
'oPulation, while more cotton will he
'rown on fewer acres.
Experimental Work.
line Inc advent OF the cotton boil weevII q
oI'ts aned Tor prompt federal action to help I
ION from Central America. Scientists {
'ere called upon TO make research and
VnIuct ,a,h demonstration of welI-known
sseenods, on many thousand farms. One G
the most interesting was the grow q
aS nSs os an acre Of corn by each OF II, 500
sos ys @ unuer 10 years OF age. The result I
.dS ai very gratifying, over $50 busbeis 2
ous es grown crown on an acre by some OF the t
esf sS' Inc me southern states grew the lar I
tefs. corn crop In their history. IJpon 5
MS MS foundation steps were pronpti, v
ne n neoO,a 20 breed hogs extensively. so that s
This VOL I'sht produce their meats II
poI ~ so9thern farmers selected by agents L
20 Tue ne department OF agriculture. There
.e many excellent farmers in the southo
,h rir q states t who only need organizing 70 II
uci5e 'nnl mu,, seeuon to the front as a pro- ]
D. sad or oil localities and Of mi I''S ~ ii
bod S'aapS, fapn,oes each has large minority Of "
anv s1ois ana ana In the development p
pn nc,,nans imperatively necessary, the "
rht nav larmers a, OF the state are the p
IN, ne grazing lands. OF the public do c,
.an aih are being steadily reduced 70 nm ir
hlg IA.