42 THE DESERT AND THE ROSE 



tically unknown, or such as they are would scarcely 

 count as such in the estimation of the eastern farm- 

 er. It may be supposed that even in prehistoric days 

 there existed ranchers of sorts — those who made 

 good in their business, and those who branded it 

 with a big "N. G." 



The "two-story" method of farming has long 

 been practised in this Valley, though written up in 

 later years as something entirely novel. Wherever 

 the soil is sufficiently rich to carry two crops or 

 more in one season such a method is good, the sole 

 objection being that when practised in an orchard 

 it interferes with the thorough cultivation absolute- 

 ly necessary to the production of first class fruit. In 

 a young orchard, however, corn is beneficial, for 

 not only must corn itself be cultivated but as it 

 grows it affords shade. 



The Valley soil is composed of adobe (clay) and 

 sandy loam, in alternation or blended; and where 

 sand occurs it is either what the Mexicans call "good 

 sand" or could be irrigated into fertility. Alkali, 

 found in my ranching days only in spots, was some- 

 times the reverse of harmful when well mixed by 

 deep cultivation, or it could be eliminated by repeat- 

 ed irrigations. In those days, too, it was quite pos- 

 sible to find land too rich and heavy for fruit trees. 

 Fertilisers were then not merely unnecessary but 

 actually harmful, and the Egyptian Plague of 

 wormy beasts is put down by some to the present 

 use of barnyard manure. Every reform has its 

 initiatory drawbacks, and "the beautiful clear wa- 

 ter," of which the Reclamation Service is so proud, 



