THE CALL OF THE LAND 



which shelter it. Under an intelligent gov- 

 ernment these things ought not to continue. 



The federal ox pasture has also been in- 

 vaded on a gigantic scale by homesteading. 

 This process is now rapidly going on, and 

 it is destined to be carried still further by a 

 number of influences whose power is only 

 just coming to be felt. 



One of these is irrigation, public and 

 private. We need not go so far as some irri- 

 gation enthusiasts to be convinced how vast 

 an area now too dry for profitable agricul- 

 ture this process will eventually turn into 

 good agricultural land. 



As much more space will be withdrawn 

 from pasturage by the creation of forests. 

 This process is sure to be accentuated by 

 the growing impossibility of obtaining suffi- 

 cient timber for the needs of this great 

 country from the sources hitherto known. 

 Allowing for alkali plats and for horny sub- 

 soils, there is not a county which might not 

 grow its own timber; few that might not, 

 besides this, grow for export; very many 

 where timbetfwould be the most profitable 



