18 IRRIGATION FARMING. 



the ages of persevering man, and anticipating those bone- 

 fits that are to be commanded by "the nations yet to 

 be," we may conclude that irrigation means better 

 economic conditions; means small farms, orchards and 

 vineyards ; more homes and greater comfort for men of 

 moderate means. It means more intelligence and knowl- 

 edge applied to farming, more profit from crops, more 

 freight and more commerce because special products of 

 higher grade and better market value will be enhanced. 

 It means association in urban life instead of isolated 

 farms. It means the occupation of small holdings. It 

 means more telephones, telegraphs, good roads and swift 

 motors ; fruit and garden growths everywhere ; schools 

 in closer proximity ; villages on every hand, and such 

 general prosperity as can hardly be dreamed of by those 

 who are. not familiar with the results of even the present 

 infancy of irrigation in America. It can hardly be 

 doubled that in time the lessons conveyed by history, as 

 well as by the daily practice and results of irrigation in 

 the arid region, will induce the dwellers in the regions 

 of summer rains to procure for themselves at least a pare 

 of the advantages which are equally within their reach, 

 putting an end to the dreadful seasons when "the skies 

 are as brass and the earth as a stone," and the labors of 

 ' he husbandman are in vain. 



