The Arizona sentinel. [volume] (Arizona City [Yuma], Yuma County, A.T. [Ariz.]) 1872-1911, 1911-03-16
TIMELY HINTS
FOR FARMERS.
A Lesson In Intensive Farming by
r III. Forbes, Director and
Chemist of Agricultural
Experiment Station
University of Arizona,

January Is, 1907.
Just west OF Yuma, Arizona, in the alluvial
| dood-plain OF the Colorado, lies little farm
| of 10 acres which on May l, 1905, was virgin
bottomland, covered with saltweed, arrow
brush and creosOte bushes. the original
purpose OF the tract was for planting selected
varieties OF Date palms imported by the U. 5.
| Department of Agriculture from the Old
World. The Experiment Station, May 2, be-
gan preparing the ground, and on May 20 the
work OF levelling, bordering and irrigating
| the tract and the planting Of l52 palms, was
completed.
THE PLAN OF WORK.
Recognizing, however, that q farmer with
his living to make meantime, cannot afford
to wait for An orchard to come into bearing,
1t was planned to plant crops for quick re-
| turns between the tree-rows, thus putting the
work on feasible basis from the small farm
er's point OF view. In order to economize
ground the irrigating borders were SO placed
as to coincide with the rows OF palms, thus
utilizing space otherwise usually wasted.
The tract was divided by the borders into
lands, for the most part one-half an acre in
size: lrrigating water from the Colorado
Valley =. Il /. Canal was obtained in the Gus
tomary manner and +. l.. Crane, himself a
Yuma Valley farmer, undertook the care OF
what was ncknamed our play farm"
In size, as well as in the intensive character
Of the work planned, this farm" is the OPP
posite OF the average holdings of this locality.
The prevailing crops of the region are alfalfa,
corn, barley, and forages In general, compare
lively little attention being given to Vege-
tables and fruits. Withal, the cost of dwelling
low TWEEN ty dollars an acre at current prices
for labor and teams. Moreover, the cost, ex-
elusive OF maintenance, OF the Government
irrigating system now under construction
Will be about $3.50 an acre annually for ten
years. 10 meet these and other heavy items
of expense In connection with the establish
ment OF q farm in this region, intensive crops
Of more remunerative character than those
now in vogue, are essential. 1t was partly,
therefore, as an object lesson bearing upon
these financial aspects OF the general stun
RECLAMATION OF THE GROUND.
The soil OF our tract, warm, sandy lean
well adapted to gardening operations, was
ievelled, ditched and bordered at contract
price OF $l7 ~ an acre, considerably less than
the average for the locality, reckoning the
labor of men and teams at current rates. In
addition, barbed wire and posts for fencing
cost 5000; lumber for headgates cost $39.57;
4 drive well point and pipe, a pitcher-spOut
pump and barrel, $lS.45; a small lumber
two-room house, including five and one-half
days carpenter hire Sl52.75; and a bruSh-roof
shelter for horses. about $500. Only skilled
labor employed in dwelling, bordering and
iitching the ground, and for part construc-
lion OF the house, is Included in the above
estimates, as the common labor required or
dinarily would be, and in this case was, fur
nished by the farmer himself
To bring this ground under cultivation and
make it habitable for a small farmer and his
family, as stated above, therefore required a
the average instance must be included q
team, wagon, plow, harrow, haying equip
ment ShOvels hoes and other small tools.
CROPS AND MARKET
The crops selected for the season OF 1905
were Early Rose potatoes, White Bermuda
onions. ROckyford cantaioupes, Dwarf Cham
pion and Burpee'S Quarter Century tomatoes,
md alfalfa, besides few hills OF watermelons
md sundry vegetables. a..
The produce was marketed in Yuma with
The exception of tomatoes, which, for the
;argest part, were expressed to Tucson and
Bisbee The following statements for the
various crops are on the basis Of net cash re-
turns TO the small farmer, who with an aver
lge family OF five and a team of horses is as
sumed to do the work required. as explained
below. Items necessitating cash outlay, as
seed, irrigating water. and crates are deducted |
from gross returns Water costs an average |
OF 50 cents for irrigation per acre for the crops
grown. The yields in certain instances are |
low, due to the unilnproved condition OF the |
soil, which, like desert soils in geEvIal. was |
low In nitrogen and organic matter. Some |
small salty areas also affected yields locally |
White Bermuda onions; Al acres; Seed |
planted Sept. 27-Oct 8, 1905. Young onions |
tranSplanted, Feb. SO. 1906. Crop matured |
about June l. Yield, 1916 pounds Of dry on
IONS Highest price received, 2hc a pound |
lowest price received, l.Sc a pound. Entire |
crop marketed in Yuma.
Cash Cash
OUTLAW. returns.