lERIGATION OF GRASS-LANDS. 211 



which nothing will grow that could nourish man or beast ; yet 

 it was said that it was a splendid field for agriculture. Why? 

 Because you can go out there alid take one of those mountain- 

 streams and conduct it down and irrigate that land, and make 

 it produce something. Yet, we had never thought we could 

 use irrigation in Massachusetts.. If it will do such wonderful 

 things for Colorado, may it not do something for the farms in 

 Massachusetts? There is no question about it. It is not a 

 new thing. Ital}^ has practised it for generations ; France 

 has practised it ; Germany has practised it ; and over very 

 large tracts of territory both in France and Germany, the 

 testimony to-day is that their crops have been more than 

 doubled simply by irrigation. Is it not possible for the farm- 

 ers of Massachusetts to use this power to fertilize their grass- 

 fields ? Why, bless you ! I thought this was a land of brooks, 

 and rivers, and streams of water that were running down our 

 hillsides. I know we have seasons of drought, and seasons 

 of flood, but I tell you we have water enough in Massachu- 

 setts to make more grass than can be used in the production 

 of hay. Simply water put on these acres would produce the 

 best crop of grass, without any other fertilizer. 



Now, a few words in relation to this matter practically. I 

 have seen fields in Massachusetts mow two crops, year after 

 year, year after year, with no other fertilizing element given 

 them than water, and if one man can do it who has the facilities, 

 others can do it who have equal facilities . There are a great many 

 things which need to be understood in connection with the ap- 

 plication of water. In the first place, the finer and better 

 qualities of grass flourish under the influence of water if it is 

 rightly applied and used ; therefore, if we would have the 

 fullest advantage of irrigation, we must resort to underclrain- 

 ing; and then we have this very. great gain, the water being 

 received upon the soil, is carried down through it, and all its 

 fertilizing elements are left behind. This is without expense 

 other than tapping some mountain-stream. I may spread that 

 water over acres of grass and mowing land, and thus make 

 them bear their two crops year after year, and sell that grass 

 from the farm and receive a portion of that money which I 

 want to keep in the State, because water is cheap and plenty. 

 Can we not do it? It seems to me that we can. At any rate, 

 it is one of those things that ought to be tried. 



