The Parker post., 1914-06-27
OBSTACLES
TO SUCCESS
EXTRACTS FROM THE TWELFTH
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE REC
LAMATioN SERVICE FOR THE
YEARS 1912 AND 1918.

EVERY encouragement SHOuIu De
given the man who is making his
home on the reclaimed land and cul-
tivating it effectively. Such a man
should be recognized as cooperating
with the government in it's efforts to
promote the prosperity of the nation.
| 1t is generally amittd that few men
can succeed as farmers or propely
utilize the opportunities offered by the
government unless they devote their
, entire time and energy to the cultlva-
tiOn of the irrigated lands and that
rhe greatest obstacle to the success
Of the reclamation act lies in the man
who is unwilling or unable to utilize
effectively the bounty of the govern
ment or the money advanced in re-
claiming the land.
The largest results yet to be ac-
compished are in the securing of
more effective cooperation between
the individual water users and their
organizations Theoretically. it should
effectiveness, but experience has
S lown that the farmer under new
project is SO busy with the details
Of MS own work that it is extremely
difficult to obtain active interest in
those things which an outsider might
regard as of first Importance. For
example, the agricultural experiment
stations en- certain projects have con
lecLed with them men who are COM
petennt to advise the newcomers. 1t
would be assumed that the majority
If farmers would visit the nearest
! experiment farm frequently to see
What has been done of interest and
! value to them and would eagerly seek
advice on IHeil difficultprOblems, but
| the contrary is the case. 1T is diff
cult to interest many of them in the
experiments Icing carried on for theic
| benefit. and the tendency has been to
rely upon advice or suggestions of
some near neighbor who may be mis-
Informed.
1t is to overcome this very natural
| tendency and in order to promote col>
tidence and cooperation between the
reclamation service and the farmer
that the secretary of the interior has
planned to secure experts from the
department of agriculture who shall
visit the farms and counsel and ad
wise with the farmer on his land.
| 1t has become evident that the irri-
gator should be visited ON his own
farm and that the difficulties which
he is encountering should be studied
on the ground in the same way that
the trOubels OF a manufacturer of
goods are solved in a factory. The
principles or theory can be taught
elsewhere, but the far more difficult
practical application of the lessons
can only be had in the fields where
and when the crops are growing. 1t
is this condition that has hitherto
been fully recognized, but that is
being made more prominent as ex-
perience is had in the development
OF irrigated lands.
Selfg-Overnment is the basis OF eff
fective cooperation, and for success
must be joined with the attitude of
mind that gives motive force to coop
erative institutions and with the de-
velOpment OF those qualities of char
and keep up the cooperative efforts.
The people On the different projects
whether farmers, merchants or bank
ers, are realizing that they must pull
together in solving the general diff
culties. At first the obstacles to be
| solved by the individual have
! The moment he sees any relief in
this direction he is confronted by the
still larger problem of cooperation
for building up the entire common
wealth. In other words, the individ-
ual irrigatOr can not stand aOme, but
! is forced in the proper handling of
the irrigation system and in the prop
er disposal OFF hs crops to become an
effective unit in the great scheme of
cooperation and of mutual assistance.
| Instructive examples of agricultur-
al cooperation among irrigators are
to be found among the fruit growers
Ot California and elsewhere, and may
we'll serve as object lessons to others
engaged in the development and cul-
| tivation of irrigated lands. The prac-
| tice of cooperation is peculiarly ad-
apted to irrigation farming because