480 REroKT OF OFFIPK OF KXI'EKIMENT STATIONS. 



SEMIARID DISTRICTS. 



Between the eastern part of Texas, OUIalioiiiu, Kansas, Nebraska, 

 and the Dakotas, and tlie distinctively arid counti'v wliich lies at the 

 western border of these States, there is a broad strip of country which 

 extends from the northern boundary of the Tnited States almost to 

 the (lulf of Mexico, in which there is ])lenty of rain in many seasons to 

 produce crops, but in other seasons a<;riculture without irri«(ation is a 

 failure In all yeais the period in which irrigation is necessary is of 

 l)rief (hiration. In these sections farmers are confronted b}' two prob- 

 lems: I low to make the limited water supply of that region availal)le, 

 and how to utilize it to the best advantage. There are few large 

 rivers and nearly all the streams are intermitteiit in character. Water 

 in small ([uantities can l)c had. however, over a large part of this area. 

 The gra\elly sul)soil in many sections is tilled with water, or it can be 

 stored in small reservoirs in ravines or natural depressions. In this 

 region there have been recurring periods of wet and dry years which 

 have peopled and depopulated certain sections three or four times. 

 Kainy years attract farmers and dry years drive them away. A 

 special sj'stem of agriculture must be worked out for this part of the 

 countr}^ which will include a limited water suppl}' for irrigation to be 

 drawn from wells or streams ])y pumps or by gravity from small res- 

 ervoirs when it is stored. A\"ith this water supply each settler will be 

 ahle to irrigate from 10 to 20 acres of ground and l)e assured in both 

 dry and wet years of an ample supply of vegetal^les from his garden, 

 fruit for his household from his orchard, and enough alfalfa and 

 forage to support his milch cows and other farm animals. 



This investigation has received numerous petitions from individuals 

 and associations of farmers to take up the study of irrigation methods 

 suited to this region, and to outline plans for agricultural development 

 based thereon. We made a beginning ])y cooperating this year with 

 the station esta))lished ])y the State of Kansas at Hays. 



KANSAS. 

 J. G. TIaney, Superintendent Fort Hays Branc li State Kxi)erinient Station, in charge. 



Ill eooperation with the State experiment station of Kansas, an 

 investigation to determine the co.st of irrigation in the semiarid dis- 

 trict and the conditions which afi'ect its profits was inaugurated at 

 Hays. Kans. A centrifugal pump with steam engine was installed 

 and a number of ordinary field crops were irrigated. It was not expected 

 that the results of the first season could be made conclusive; the well 

 had to be dug, the pumps installed, and the land put in condition for 

 irrigation. All these expenses should not be charged against the first 

 year, but it will require two or three years to determine fairly what 

 the financial advantages of irrigation are in this section of the country. 



