200 EXPERIMEyTAL FARMS 



4-5 EDWARD VII., A. 1905 



which was being cut, was very fine; growth generally was of the most luxuriant 

 character and the fruit trees vigorous, healthy, and bearing well. A casual inspection 

 of the soil, apart from what it can produce with the aid of water, certainly would not 

 lead one to suppose it to be a fruitful one; indeed, it would on such an examinatioq 

 be generally judged as of poor quality. We purpose, therefore, during the coming 

 year to subject typical samples of these soils to careful analysis and hope therefrom 

 to arrive at some better knowledge than we have to-day regarding the cause of their 

 great productiveness. Very possibly it may be shown that the climatic conditions 

 prevailing have been conducive to an accumulation of ' available ' plant food — we 

 think this more than probable — and if this proves true it will point to the desirability 

 of carefully husbanding this most valuable heritage and not allowing its waste by 

 the excessive use of irrigation water. 



From Spence's Bridge to Lower Nicola the road winds along on the side of the 

 Nicola canyon. Several farms on the routs are to be observed, chiefly at the bends 

 of the river, most of them apparently being occupied by Indians, near the cultivated 

 spots. The irrigation ditches are to be seen winding their way down, or rather around, 

 steep inclines of barreiirlooking soil, carrying a stream of living water brought from 

 some creek at a higher level; then as they reach the bottom lands branching and los- 

 ing themselves and their precious burden in innumerable smaller channels amongst 

 the most luxuriant herbage of field and orchard. Agricidturally speaking, one cannot 

 heliJ realizing, with water, everything; without water, nothing. 



At the Lower Nicola we stayed two days in order to allow me to more thoroughly 

 study the irrigation schemes in vogue, to examine the crops and to visit certain out- 

 crops of ' alkali ' that I had been asked to report on. It would be undesirable here to 

 enter fully into the several problems in connection with irrigation that must be solved 

 if this country is to be more than sparsely settled, but we may briefly refer to one or 

 two of the more important features, as they occurred to the writer. "We have first to 

 recognize that in many parts the water available for irrigation purposes is limited 

 — many ditches several miles in length were seen, proving that even now water has 

 frequently to be brought long distances. To obtain an equitable distribution of the 

 water is of the utmost importance to the future welfare and progress of this country, 

 for land and farms without water are practically unproductive and valueless. If the 

 tapping of the streams and other sources is left so largely to the greed or caprice of 

 the individual, if the conservation or storage of available waters is neglected, it seemg 

 scarcely likely that the community can continue to benefit equitably from the supply. 

 At present much water is wasted that might on other lands prove of the greatest 

 service. 



Secondly, we should like to point out how the more frequent use of the cultivator 

 and harrow to preserve a dry earth mulch, might be profitably substituted for water. 

 Such a method of conserving soil moisture is most effective and quite applicable in 

 orchards and for root crops. 



Lastly, it is quite evident that in some places too much water is used. The exces- 

 sive application is detrimental both to soils and crops — the soils are injured physically 

 and chemically, by being choked, becoming sour and losing their more soluble planl 

 food, and the crops suffer through the drowning of their roots. In several instances, 

 we noticed much harm as resulting from this excessive use, especially on the lov/er 

 levels. 



Patches of land were examined that were evidently suffering from the presence of 

 alkali, of which both the ' white ' and the ' black ' forms are found here. The nature 

 and origin of alkali were explained and the best methods for the treatment of such 

 lands outlined. We took pains at all our meetings and demonstrations in the dry belt 

 to give information on this matter, as well as to speak on the equally important matter, 

 the use and abuse of water in irrigation. 



At Loewr Nicola and at Coutleos truly magnificent crops of Eed Clover, Alfalfa, 

 Sainfoin, and Alsike Clover were seen — it was very evident that all the legumes thrive 



