PART IV. SOILS, FERTILIZERS 

 AND IRRIGATION 



What is Intensive Cultivation? 



From whom can I receive instruction or information regarding in- 

 tensive cultivation? 



Intensive cultivation has, so far as we know, not been made the 

 subject of any treatise or publication. Intensive cultivation means 

 the use of a maximum amount of labor, fertilizers and water for pro- 

 ducts of high market value. There is no better example of intensive 

 cultivation in the world than is afiforded by the practice of the best 

 market gardeners and producers of small fruit. Next to them, on 

 larger areas, would be the policies and methods of the fruit growers 

 of California. Intensive culture, then, is not a particular method or 

 system, but consists in doing the best thing for maximum production 

 of any product which is valuable enough to spend the large outlay 

 which is required. Just how this cultivation should be done depends 

 upon the nature of the product and the conditions of soil and climate 

 in whatever locality intensive cultivation may be undertaken. 



Can a Man Farm? 



Is it possible for a man with a fczu acres rvell cared for and care- 

 fully tilled to make a living and pay out on a purchase of land at $125 

 per acref Could a good carpenter make wages and take care of a small 

 tract for a year or so until well under way? 



We consider $125 per acre for good land with a good water right 

 a fair price. Financing a farming operation depends more upon the 

 man than upon the good land. There are men who would, by intensive 

 cultivation of salable stuff and right use of water, pay oflE the full 

 value of the land from its produce in a couple of years. Others will 

 never pay of?. Of course, the nearer you can come to paying for the 

 land at the beginning, and the more money you have for improve- 

 ments, the more satisfactory your situation should be in every respect. 

 There is a good chance for carpenter work in colony development, 

 and considerable self-help could be secured in that way. You do not 

 say whether you know anything about farming. Farming is a very 

 complicated business and a basic knowledge derived from experience 

 is a proper foundation to build upon in the light of the fuller applica- 

 tion of scientific principles. 



