THE IRRIGA TION A GE. 221 



about 600 bushels. These yields are under intensive cultivation with 

 plenty of irrigation. 



Stockraising is one of the leading industries of the state and is a part 

 of the revenue obtained through mixed farming. The cattle, sheep and 

 horses are given free range on the mountains and deserts and, if fed in 

 the winter yield handsome returns for the investment. Many flocks of 

 sheep and droves of cattle feed on the mountains in summer and the val- 

 leys in winter without any other care except herding, but the more ad- 

 vanced farmers have found that growing alfalfa and grain and feeding 

 during the coldest months is more profitable. The wool clip alone, 

 amounting to about 15,000,000 pounds, is a great item of cash income en- 

 joyed by hundreds of farmers who own small flocks and lease them to 

 herders for good figures or a part of the wool and increase. The wool is 

 shipped to St. Louis and Boston markets and the mutton sheep to Omaha, 

 Kansas City or Chicago. A good market for farm products always ex- 

 ists where there are numerous bands of cattle or herds of sheep and the 

 owners manage 10 make one investment create the demand for another. 



Sugar beet growing is profitable in Utah county in the vicinity of the 

 sugar factory and this year a large acreage is being planted in Weber to 

 supply the second factory which will be in operation this fall, in time to 

 consume the season's product. The Lehi factory requires 40,000 tons 

 and the Ogden factory will consume as much or more. G^od beet land 

 well tilled produces from 15 to 20 tons per acre. The beets sell for $4.50 

 a ton and the average cost of producing an acre is about $30 giving the 

 farmer good profits. With the two factories in operation no less than 

 6,000 acres will be required to grow sufficient beets for supplying the 

 mills. The beets reach the highest state of perfection under scientific 

 irrigation and the yearly output may be reckoned even before seed time, 

 because such a misfortune as drouth is never known where irrigation is 

 practiced. Beet culture insures clean tillage and is a strong inducement 

 to small land holding and intensive cultivation. Feeding poor beets and 

 pulp from the factory adds to the value of dairying and this industry has 

 taken a strong hold on Utah. 



Fruit growing is a much neglected industry which pays well under 

 careful management, and recent years have added several young orchards 

 to the acreage planted. Apples, peaches, pears and the small fruits are 

 the chief orchard plantings, but most of the market supplies come from 

 California. This includes the green, dried and canned fruits and shows 

 the necessity for developing fruit growing and erecting factories for 

 canning and drying. Much good fruit land remains in its original desert 

 condition awaiting the application of water and plow to make it valuable 

 for home builders. The railroads cross many thousands of acres, worth 

 at present only $1.25, that could be made beautiful orchards and vine- 

 yards by colonial co-operation in ditch building. Home seekers can find 

 abundant raw materials in this state that can be manufactured into all 

 the necessities of residence and farm utensils, by skill and an earnest 



