44-t 



THE IRRIGATION AGE. 



farmer in the valley, even to the converted Mr. Jones, that 

 it was knowledge he was after and that they were truly 

 assisting him by their discussions on farm management. 

 His report to his superior officer was satisfactory and he 

 was favorably mentioned for a continuance in the service 

 because of his ability to meet men on pleasing terms, get 

 the most information from them, and at the same time, he 

 benefited and broadened himself. Such a man is valued in 

 any walk in life. 



in facts and lessons, written lor tne man who profited 

 thereby. 



This is not cited- to belittle college education, far from 

 it, but to prove that no education is helpful or worth while 

 where technical or scientific terms hide or cloud the mean- 

 ing of the text to the laymen whom the article is intended 

 to benefit. The farmer has learned not to waste his time 

 reading such articles, which doubtless contain much that 

 would be instructive if not hidden by big words, but turns 



Constructing Cement Reservoirs, Patterson Ranch, California. 



Not long ago a certain agricultural paper published 

 two articles on the subject of "Farming by Irrigation in 

 the West." One was written by a college graduate and for 

 style, good construction and perfect English, it was a 

 mastepiece, and was doubtless highly praised by the col- 

 lege professor, but the puzzled farmer had a headache 

 after he finished reading the article. His first impres- 

 sion was that he was a failure and that it was nothing 

 more than a miracle that he had ever succeeded in raising 

 anything on his frm, but the more he tried to intelligently 

 comprehend the article the more he became convinced 



his attention to the plain talk of one who understands his 

 subject and also the needs of his brother on the farm. 



When the college man can talk and write to the 

 farmer in his vernacular and augment his knowledge with 

 good common sense, then will the layman be benefited 

 and the college will have fulfilled its mission in agricul- 

 tural pursuits. Until then the farmer will undoubtedly 

 receive his most valuable lessons from the farmer, and for 

 the good he has done his fellow men and his country, the 

 man behind the plow should be consulted and acknowl- 





Construction Work on Cement Reservoirs. Patterson Ranch, California. 



that, so far as he could interpret it, the methods were 

 entirely impracticable for general farming, and that, on the 

 whole, it was not worth trying to understand. 



The second article was written by a practical farmer, 

 a man who had had but three months schooling in all his 

 life, but with thirty years' experience in irrigated agricul- 

 ture. In his straightforward, simple way he explained his 

 methods, using the terms that all farmers understand and 

 appreciate. While faulty in construction, it was eloquent 



edged as a prime factor in agriculture, the leading indus- 

 try of our country. 



Send $2.50 for The Irrigation Age, one year, and the 

 Primer of Irrigation, cloth bound, a 260-page finely 

 illustrated work for new beginners in irrigation. 





