Weekly journal-miner., 1911-05-03
REPORT
 ON DRY FARMING
Dr. T. Cooke Declares Yavapai Lands Can be Made as Profitable as Those
 Of the State of Wyoming

With such a market as Prescott
 affords, it seems to me a very great pity that better transportation faeili-
 ties to the Verde Valley are not available. With no immediate pos sibility of railroad communication, every assistance in the lessening of i the grades in and out the valley should be afforded The results would certainly be of immense value,
 both to the county seat and to the i valley.
 Mesa soils beyond the Albertson ranch, visited Thursday, showed un- deniable evidence, from their vege- tatiOn, of adaptability for the grow ing of exceptionally good crops. I In the afternoon, I experienced the most enjoyable automobile drive of my life, in company with R. N. | Frederieks, the president of your body. over the completed portion of the Territorial Highway, one of the best roads I nave ever travelled over, as near perfect in grades and completeness of detail as man, seem ingly, can produce. The vistas from this highway are unrivaled. My only cold reception during my ! visit, one that I shall ever cherish as being perfect in every other de- | tail, greeted me in the shape of a very cold wind in the Kirkland Val i ley. This. however. did not last long. Driving eight miles up the valley, l found further great prom ise in the soils and general eondi- tions for the production of big crops. under so-ealled dry farming methods.
 At the meeting at Kirkland. I learned that one man had raised over two tons of grain hay per acre | In 1910, using by no means the best methods in its production Another man astoniShed me with the state ment that he had raised, in 1910, more than a ton of corn per acre. practically without cultivation. Re aliZing that last year was the dry est on record during the past nine years, these statements form most important evidence of what might have been done by proper. intensive dry farming methods.
 Saturday l investigated a section of Lonesome Valley, proposed to be reclaimed by means of the retention and storage from the flow from con tiguOus streams and flood waters. Few, perhaps, realize the paramount importance to the future prosperity of Prescott and Yavapai county in vOlved in this most important under taking.
 Although George A. Thayer and Major W. l.. Hargrove. the promoters of this project, are exploiting it for their private profit, it should be borne In mind that it is they who have realized and grasped this op- portunity, whereby the whole county and territory must undoubtedly be benefited substantially and soon.
 I see no reason why the following crops cannot be successfully grovri on the soils above referred to:
 Winter wheat. winter rye. spring barley, oats and wheat. emmer. com monly called speltz; alfalfa and al- falfa seed, stock beets. potatoes, field peas, corn, sOrghums, Milo maize. Kaffir corn, etc; and. possi- bly, winter barley and oats. broom grass and slender wheat grass.
 Without question. the whole range of deeiduous fruits can be grown, given the selection of the right va rieties, by the utilization of up-to- date methods and appliances to eoun- teraet the effect of the frosts.
 To those who would succeed, I cannot recommend too strongly deep blowing, immediate narrowing or cultivation, and re-harrowing after heavy rains. thereby forming what is termed soil mulch. This mulch is made for the purpose of prevent. ing evaporation. Further, summer tilling, to conserve one years mois- ture to another. thus obtaining two years moisture for one maximum crop.
 A conservative man myself. and not knowing a suffieieney of the general climatic conditions here, I make these recommendations; but, believe, by proper rotation of crops, some crop can be raised every year.
 Invariably. whether under irriga- tiOn or by so-called dry farming I emphasize the use of seed raised by natural precipitation. Too much stress cannot possibly be laid Dn this recommendation
 To the president. secretary. dry farming committee and other mem Ders of the Prescott Chamber of Commerce, and to the people gen 'rally, of Yavapai county, I tender ny most hearty thanks. for their courteous and hospitable intentions. Sometimes assertions are made which are not verified I was !ssured that I would receive an Ari- .Ona welcome. I wish to say that he realization far exceeded my ex- 'eetatiOn
 Yours very truly,
 V. T. COOKE.