348 THE LURE OF THE LAND 



described. It was remarkable to see in evidence be- 

 fore us the animal living and flourishing on an area 

 which was so small as to seem almost impossible. Yet 

 this simple experiment has demonstrated what can be 

 done in a scientific way in increasing the number of 

 food animals which can be sustained on a given area of 

 land. Having shown how our product of the cereals 

 may be easily doubled or increased threefold on a given 

 area of land, it is interesting to note that it has also 

 been demonstrated by scientific agriculture how the 

 number of food animals sustained on a given area can 

 also be increased two- or threefold. Thus it is not 

 only bread which we are to furnish, but also the meat, 

 which will be forthcoming in proper quantities. 



PROGRESS NOT CONFINED TO ARABLE SOILS. 



Of the vast area of our arid regions we need not 

 wholly despair. According to conservative and com- 

 petent authorities, it is estimated that with the visible 

 supply of water at least 5 per cent, of this region may 

 be subjected to irrigation. This area alone would add 

 immense stores to our granaries. On irrigated lands it 

 already pays to practise intensive agriculture. Exten- 

 sive agriculture will not pay on land which it has cost 

 $50 or more per acre to reclaim and prepare for the 

 seed. At the present time one acre of irrigated land 

 means as much as three of ordinary land in furnishing 

 agricultural products. 



The coming triumphs in agricultural science will 

 not be confined to our present arable soils. The arid 

 wilderness is to be conquered, and even the snows be 

 robbed of their terror. When the surface water has 

 been used up the inexhaustible subterranean streams 

 still remain. The very blizzards that sweep down upon 



