THE IRRIGATION AGE. 



23 



piration. Standard medical authorities 

 give abundant reasons why the rarefied air 

 of high altitudes is efficacious in the arrest 

 and cure of pulmonary diseases, and there 

 are thousands of individual experiences in 

 Colorado today which confirm their theo- 

 ries. In an exhaustive discussion of this 

 subject an eminent physician of Denver, 

 who has devoted his professional life 

 mainly to this study, illustrates his argu- 

 ment by showing the climatic or physical 

 causes of purity of atmosphere, as well as 

 by the evidence of experience. The rela- 

 tive attributes are presented as follows: 



Dryness, as opposed to moisture. 



Coolness or cold, preferable to warmth 

 or heat. 



Rarefaction, as opposed to sea level 

 pressure. 



Sunshine as opposed to cloudiness. 



Variability of temperature, as opposed 

 to equability. 



Marked diathermacy of the air, to be 

 preferred to the smoky atmosphere of 

 cities or the dense air strata of moist 

 currents. 



Eadiation and absorption of heat by 

 rocks and sandy loams, better than latent 

 absorption. 



Mountainous transfiguration, contrasted 

 with flatness of level sections. 



Frequent electrical changes of atmos- 

 phere, also moderate winds (except in quite 

 cold weather), preferable to continous 

 stillness of air. 



Inland altitudes, contrasted with sea 

 air. 



Without presenting the arguments and 

 technicalities of a tedious scientific dis- 

 cussion, it is sufficient to show conclusive- 

 ly that in Colorado all the conditions of 

 health are met. There is a sufficient alti- 

 tude to cause lung and chest development; 

 there is dry, exhilarating mountain air, 

 with an almost absolute absence of malaria: 

 there is the tonic effect of a bracing clim- 

 ate without its rigors; an atmosphere 

 filled with ozone; cool night in summer; a 

 bright, sunny sky almost every day in the 

 year, conducive of cheerfulness, and 



bringing a new pleasure every morning. 

 It naturally follows from these conditions 

 that both mind and body are constantly 

 stimulated in their functions. 



AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS. 



The products of field and farm and or- 

 chard and vineyard cover everything grown 

 in the temperate zone except cotton, rice, 

 oranges and lemons. The soil and climate 

 of the state is adapted to all fruits, vege- 

 tables, grains and grasses. Everything 

 from the most luscious peaches to alfalfa 

 grows to perfection. Considerable atten- 

 tion is being given the dairy and poultry 

 industries, especially in the vicinity of 

 Denver. There are great opportunities in 

 these lines for wide awake, intelligent, 

 money making people. 



FRUITS AND FRUIT GROWING. 



The first experiment in fruit growing in 

 Colorado began thirty-one years ago, in 

 1863, when William Lee, of Jefferson 

 County, the pioneer fruit culturist of the 

 state hauled his first stock of trees by mule 

 team from Iowa City, Iowa. Fruit grow- 

 ing has become a permanent industry. Its 

 success is already established and it gives 

 promise of still greater profits in the future. 

 There are two main points to be observed. 

 All fruits of the zone (except some of the 

 more tender varieties of the stone fruits) 

 are exceedingly well adapted to the soil 

 and climate of the eastern side of the 

 mountains. Their culture has been very 

 successful except far out upon the plains, 

 the nearer the mountains the better grapes 

 and other small fruits grow. All fruits, 

 including peaches, grow successfully on 

 the west side of the mountains. Every- 

 where apples form the staple fruit crop and 

 they grow large and luscious, including all 

 choice varieties. The fruits most abund- 

 antly raised are apples, pears, plums, 

 peaches, apricots, strawberries, cherries, 

 raspberries, blackberries, gooseberries and 

 currants. The most prolific as well as the 

 most luscious of all tender fruits is the 

 strawberry. For size, sweetness, excel- 

 lence of flavor and abundance of growth, 



