VALUE OF THE GRASS CHOI*. 17 



second in distributing it where it is needed, in an econom- 

 ical manner. 



The great valley of California includes an area of 57,200 

 square miles, which is equal to that of Illinois or Michi- 

 gan. The area of the lesser valleys is equal to 18,750 

 square miles, or 12,000,000 acres, susceptible of irrigation. 

 For every one of these acres capable of irrigation, there 

 are three which serve as a water shed, thus, as it were, 

 quadrupling the rain-fall of the valleys, if the water shed 

 of the hills can be utilized. 



The area of land that may be brought under irrigation 

 in other parts of the comparatively rainless district, and 

 the area of water shed, has about the same relative pro- 

 portion, but are of far greater extent. Altogether, the 

 increase of wealth that must accrue from the reclamation 

 of these vast fertile tracts, which want only water to 

 cover them with verdure, is beyond computation. But 

 this increase of wealth, great as it would be, cannot fail 

 to be exceeded by that which would result from the gen- 

 eral application of irrigation in those parts of the country 

 where only partial watering is needed ; and the prevention 

 of losses by drouth, and the ravages of destructive insects 

 to which moisture is fatal, which every year, in one por- 

 tion or another of the country, reduce farmers profits, or 

 cause them to disappear entirely. As an example the 

 single case of the grass crop may be considered. 



The value of the grass crop of the United States, in- 

 cluding hay and the products of pasture, is greater than 

 the combined value of all other crops. This statement 

 will doubtles be a surprise to many, nevertheless it may 

 be substantiated by the following figures. 



The total hay crop of 1870 was 27,316,048 tons, the 

 average value of this at a moderate estimate would not 

 be less than $10 per ton, or over 273,000,000 dollars. The 

 total dairy products, which should be credited to past- 

 ure, were estimated, in 1870, as 1,000,000,000 Ibs. of 



