Omaha daily bee., 1911-07-04
new MEXICO DRY, BUT RICH
Agriculture with Irrigation is Prov
ing Profitable.
DEVELOPMENT IS PERMANENT
No Boom to Initiate the Land Values
beyond Natural Figures--HOme-
steRders Commence to
Flock In.

ALBUQUERQUE, N. M, July s.-After
two wears of excessive drouth over prac-
tically the whole of the dry farming region
of west Texas and New Mexico, the New
Mexico bureau Of immigration at Albu-
querque. together with the dry farming ex-
perts of the various railroads entering New
Mexico. have just completed a dry farming
census made in order to determine the
exact status of the industry. The results
OF this census, which has occupied several
months, are now surprising figures II is
shown that there are now under actual
cultivation and In crops In the New Mexico
| dry farming districts a total of $4,000 acres.
Practically this entire acreage is upon land
which five years ago was considered indif-
ferent cattle range. The crops being pro-
duced are varied, but consist chiefly of the
frijole, or native Mexican bean, which is
not only drouth resistent, but very profit
able crop; oats, rye, flax, sorghum cane,
! milo maze, kaffir corn, broom corn, COW
peas, field peas and cotton.
Much 20 He Developed.
The experts who made the dry farming
census are conservative men, thoroughly
familiar with rainfall and other conditions
! In the new country They estimate that in
addition to the area now under cultivation
there is a total of II. 100000 acres which may
be successfully. cultivated by dry farming,
this area being scattered over twenty-three
OF the twenty-six counties and varying
| from 100000 to 100000 acres to the county.
! During the six years beginning with 1906,
5000 homesteads were taken up in New
Mexico, chiefly In the dry farming section.
These covered a total area of 100000 acres.
During 1906 1906 and 1897 the rainfall over
the dry farming region was normal and
crops were good. The homesteaders used
practically the same methods employed in
the rain belt; 1908 was a year OF light rain
fall while 1909 and 1910 were years Of ex-
! treme drouth. During these years the
homesteaders found that the rain BELT
method would not do and that they mus,
learn to give up their claims and seek a
livelihood in the towns. The present sea-
son has opened with bountiful rainfall.
Increasing Their Acreage.
The dry farmers are flocking back tc
their homesteads. The drouth has laugh,
them the lesson of the semi arid west This
year they are farming upon the most ad.
vanced principles of the conservation OF
soil moisture. During the two years Of
extreme drouth the New Mexico officials
the agricultural college and the railroad
experts have been busy organizing farmers
institutes. experiment societies and ii
teaching the homesteader how to farm
The results are apparent in the improves
methods.
In many ways, the dry farming sections
OF New Mexico are undergoing the sam,
transition that occurred in western Kansas
There is fortunately lacking In New Mexic,
the boom in land values and the sxtensiv,
real estate operations which proved 90 dis
astrous TO Kansas. The New Mexican gov
eminent has persistently discourage,
wholesale immigration into the dry farm
ing districts and has urged prosperity
homeseekers TO thoroughly understand tn
conditions and the methods of farming be
fore going in The result OF this polio,
has been a steady. permanent development
which has established a number of thor
oughly cultivated dry farming districts sur
rounding substantial growing towns.
The results OF the present season o
normal rainfall and with improved condi
tons and proper methods are beIn
watched with keen interest.