22 



only 10 per cent, finding its way into drains laid three 

 and four feet deep." How Crops Feed, p. 197. 



This, we presume, is about the amount of evapora- 

 tion in the United States. Then, what a magnificent 

 prospect is here presented ! 



Mighty rivers are pouring, not down the deep val- 

 leys, buf upwards from our broad fields to the blue 

 sky above us ! 



Yes, every square mile of territory sends a con- 

 stant flood, rushing, though invisible, to the vast seas 

 in the viewless air ! 



Could all the streams from a single State be concen- 

 trated into one torrent it would out roar Niagara as it 

 dashed against the clouds ! 



But what becomes of the poor little 10 per cent, of 

 water that goes sparkling down the ravines to its- 

 ocean home ? Is it allowed to depart in peace ? No, 

 The farmer, at great expense, cuts channels along the 

 hill side to irrigate the sloping plains, and proves- 

 that it will pay to do it. And then many calcula- 

 tions are made, and the time predicted when engines 

 will be used to pump back the water again to revive 

 the parched and dusty soil. 



All this is done while the 90 per cent, of fluid is 

 passing away without an effort made to save it. We 

 do not need it all. No, not the half of it. We know 

 by covering the land we can retain enough for all the 

 wants of vegetation. 



To have a vigorous and uninterrupted growth, we 

 must have moisture in the soil, and we must retain 

 it there from rain to rain, or we will have a partial 

 failure in our crops. 



