The Parker post., 1912-05-18
VALLEY ALONG COLORADO RIV.
Err HAS RICH SOIL.
This Section Capable of Farming
by Intensive Methods--Big
Money to be Made.

Sub-trOpical Southwest, under 1rrlga-
tion, is capable of farming by inten-
Sive methods in the highest degree
possible in the United States. Var
ious conditions are favorable to al
intensive method when this region
shall have become subject to the VIA
of the men who are now intelligent
ly and perSistently engaged in 1t
development For the Great South
west. in addition to temperatures
which make possible the crops OF
both temperate and sub tropical re.
giomS, and the advantage OF an al
most rainlesS climate which, by irr!
CATION. enables the farmer to cOntrc!
his moisture conditions, possesses a
magnificent asG7et in the great Cole
RADIO river of the west, which, ari2.
ing in the mountains of Wyoming
Colorado and Utah, brings a never
failing supply of life-giving water t
AN otherwise barren and uninhabit
able waste. This bOunteOMs river,
moreover, carries a supply which,
when stored and conserved will more
than suffice for all Of the irrigable
lands that lie along its course 50
that il lis not only never failing, but
an adequate means for the develop
ment of what We now estimate to in,
cmde about one and One-half mil
lions of acres of land along the wes-
tern edge of Arizona, in southern
California and i'm adjacent portions
OF Mexico.
The character of the soils, also.
is all that can be desired for inten-
sigaa4-farmiag operations; for these
soils, laid down in ages past by the
Colorado river, consist of rich sedl-
mentS ranging i'll character from
Light, mellow sands we'll suited for
gardening operations. to heayie.
types of soil in which the stronger
rooted crops such as alfalfa, cotton.
wheat, milo maize, barley and euca-
lyptus find their best support. Aka.
Ii accumulations which occasionally
are in evidence at this time, will
gradually be overcome by drainage
and by flooding with abundant water
available from the Colorado river.
The third, and most distinctive ad
vantage for the region is the sub
tropical and semi-arid climate which
makes possible the planting and har
Vesting OF various crops thrOughOuJ
the year and which minlm1zeS thz
damage from rainfall to an extent un
known in other regions.
With reference TO the various spec
ial crops that have been demCnstra-
cd thus far alfalfa is. of course
easily chief in the aggregate although
greater returns per acre are easily
possible from various fruits that haV
proved we'll adapted to the region
AS a hay crop, alfalfa may be mad
to produce ten tons per acre in sever
cuttings each year. With prices fC-
baled hay ranging from $11.OO t.
$17.00 a tom there are pOssibilItdec
of high profits from this crop under
good management. For instance, Ii
1911, under the direction of the writ
er. 1886 acres of land i'm the Outskint;
of Yuma yielded 90 toms OF hay
which, together with pastureage, ,sol(
for $1055.12 The cash expenditure
required for extra labor, water, bal
ing, taxes and incidentalS just as
small farmer would have 10 pay then
out were $337. Is, leaving a small
farmers profit on this 7.36 acres o
alfalfa OF $666 81. or about 500 90 pc
acre With no more machinery an(
no greater expense for the production
per ton. an alfalfa grower could ea-
ily care for several times the 10
acres of land devoted to this expert
ment So that under the present COZ
ditdOns alfalfa hay alone offers in
ten3ive possibilities of a high order
Alfalfa seed also has i'll recent years
given some high returns per acre
u July crop as high as 1890 pounds O
seed per acre being automatically re
ported. With an average crop G
not more than 500 pounds per acre
ard price per pound to the farme
\ Of IA CENTS a gross return of 81
from alfalfa seed alone not incIud
As pa9tureage or the first TWO cut
OF hay, brings "a profit iron
line OF culture easily equal tt
bay crops mentioned above
long the best paying farm crops
have been grown on the eXp1r