El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1913-01-25

damaged on account of late frosts and
excessive rains. which destroyed prac-
ucally all of one cutting.
Inc Tonuca district, the fourth dis
trlct OF the RincOn valley, all on the
east side Of the Rio sGrande, beginning
near the town of Rincon and extend
ing to the Leasburg diversion dam, is
known as the Tonuca district
During the season of 1911 approxi-
mately 80 acres were irrigated from
several small gravity bitches, but on
account of high water in May none of
these oltcheS were operated during the
season of 1912. Approximately $50
acres were irrigated from five shall
pumping plants in the Immediate vi
MesiIIa Valley, New Mexico.
The Mesllla valley extends from Leas-
burg diversion dam at SeIden N NJ
to FL Paso, Texas, a distance Of about
90 miles, and contains in New Mexico,
to the Texas state line about 52S79
acres on the east and 25,152 acres on
the west side of the Rio Grande, and
from the Texas state line to FL Paso,
Texas, about 22,227 acres. or a total
1rrigable area in the Mesilla valley Of
about 1OO,25S acres The valley con-
tains at present eleven community
bitches lrrigating their respective dis
trlcts- Three Of the four on the east
side of the river, that is, the Dona Ana,
Las Cruces and Mesilla canals, obtain
al OF their water from the Leasburg
diversion dam and canal, while the
fourth, the Three Saints or BerinO
canal, receives $4,000 acre-feet through
the Las Cruces community ditch; also
some water by diversion from the river.
The Upper Westside bitches
The seven remaining bitches, all on
the west side Of the river Except a
small acreage under the White ditch.
east side, but having the same local
conditions) obtain their water from
their respective ditch headings direct
from the river and in each instance
have experienced the same difficulties
HlnD0n valley l.
version dams at low stages of the
river; while during the flood seasons
oftentimes various ditch headings were
washed away entirely, or the head of /
the ditch filled with silt and sediment (
During the high stage of the river /
IN the months of May and June prac- |
siderable damage either by having 4
river shifting away from the head /
ings.
Suffer from Floods
While the river did practically no /
damage to growing crops, the farmers |
suffered considerable and an indie |
terminate amount of damage through
busy season in order TO repair damage
to canals and reconstruct headings.
As the same general conditions have
been experienced by the bitches on the
east side of the river receiving their
water from the Leasburg canal they
VIII be tabulated under one heading,
treated under one heading, as they
have encountered approximately the !
same general conditions.
The estimated acreage under the |
bitches receiving their water from the !
Leasburg canal will show some changes |
in the irrigated areas. and while there /
has been a general increase in the !
acreage under the various bitches, in /
several instances a decrease is shown, |
but this apparent discrepancy is mere
~ more accurate estimate of the
areas cultivated and is based upon
survey made IN order to determine the
amount of water being used per acre
Growth of Alfalfa.
Some of the fields which have been
planted to alfalfa from 10 to 20 years /
gave a yield of only two and a half to !
three tons, while fields of three to six !
years yielded from four to five tons, |
and In several instances six tons, where ]
more improved methods of cultivation +
and irrigation were used.
The corn crop was excellent where it I
has been properly cultivated and has 1
Yielded as high as 20 bushels per acre /
in one or two instances.
Growth of Small Grains
There was a considerably Smaller 4
acreage of small grain sOWn during !
the year of 1912 than in former years,
1ut both quality and quantity are above /
from rust or smut Fruits, with the +
exception of apples and pears, were /
BADLY damaged by frOsts during April 4
md Nay. Apples and pears, where /
hey were sprayed and properly hand /
ed, bore to the full capacity of the
rees, but where these precautions
we're omitted, the cOddling moth and
,ther insects did a great deal Of dam
lge.
Only a small acreage of cantalOupes
md melons was planted, the yield was
good and the returns very fair Other
.rops. such as onions, sweet potatoes, !
Omatoes, cabbage, etc, gave excellent
fields and found a ready market local
V, with good returns.
Excessive rains during the latter part
II August damaged the alfalfa and
mall grain not only the unharvested
rops but hay which was baled and
tackled in the field.
High Water Destroys Alfalfa.
Under the Dona Ana canal about 800