THE IRRIGATION AGE. 



275 



tendencies, that it collapses into soft pliable folds re- 

 sembling a folded glove, when the milk has been 

 drawn, and that all the quarters are free from scars, 

 that they all milk down equally well, we have reason 

 to believe that such a cow has ability to transform 

 farm crops into a finished product with great econ- 



omy. This inherent tendency of dairy cows, to pro- 

 duce milk persistently, is a thing dairymen have been 

 striving to establish for over a thousand years and, 

 as a result, we have the Jersey, Holstein, Guernsey, 

 and Ayrshire breeds of dairy cattle which reflect 

 credit upon the ingenuity of man. 



U. S. DOES NOT HAVE TO IMPORT DRAFT HORSES 



WITH the exception of a very limited number 

 from England, importation into the United 

 States of pure bred draft horses for breeding pur- 

 poses has been practically stopped by the outbreak 

 of the European war. For several years previous 

 from 2,500 to 4,000 stallions and mares have been 

 brought annually into this country. In the opinion 

 of experts in the United States Department of Agri- 

 culture, however, the standard of draft horses in 

 America will not suffer from the interruption of 

 these importations. There is, it is said, a sufficiently 

 large amount of pure blood already in the country 

 to answer all requirements, and the American draft 

 horse will now have an opportunity to demonstrate 

 its own qualities. Hitherto a certain fascination 

 has hung over the word "imported" which has had 

 a marked effect upon prices. For example, an im- 

 ported Percheron stallion might sell for $2,000, 

 where an equally well-bred American Percheron 

 would bring only $1,200 to $1,500. 



We no longer go to England and Scotland for 

 Shorthorn, Hereford and Aberdeen-Angus cattle 

 except to a very limited extent. The breeders of 

 these breeds in America have and are producing the 

 equal, if not the superior, of the English cattle. 



There is no apparent reason why the same 



thing should not take place in the case of draft 

 horses. The principal breeds of these are now thor- 

 oughly established in the United States. Their 

 various characteristics and merits are discussed in 

 a new bulletin published by the United States De- 

 partment of Agriculture under the title of Farmers' 

 Bulletin No. 619, "Breeds of Draft Horses." This 

 bulletin deals with the Belgian, Percheron, French 

 Draft, Clydesdale, Shire, and Suffolk types. 



Of these the Percheron probably outnumbers, 

 in this country, all other breeds combined. Grade 

 Percherons, the product of pure bred stallions 

 crossed with ordinary mares, have proved very 

 popular on our markets. Of late years the Belgian 

 has also made great strides, but this breed is still 

 comparatively new in America. It is found chiefly 

 in the middle West, where the heaviest types of 

 draft horses are prevalent. During the past ten 

 years approximately 100 Clydesdales have been im- 

 ported each year. This type is particularly well 

 liked by those who want style and action, and in 

 consequence is used to a great extent in cities. The 

 Shires, though similar to the Clydesdales, are mas- 

 sive and less active. They are popular on the Pa- 

 cific Coast and in the central West. 



KEEP POTATO VINES A PEA GREEN COLOR 



By EUGENE GRUBB 



The Colorado Potato King 



FARMERS have become imbued with the idea 

 that potatoes must not be watered until they 

 bloom, and we cannot get that out of their heads. 

 Some of them are set in their ways and will not 

 water them in June. Others will not water them 

 until the leaves become dark color. All this is 

 wrong. Potatoes do best when they have enough 

 moisture to keep them growing well and the leaves 

 of pea green color. Keep pea green in mind and 

 be sure the potato vines are that color no matter 

 when or how often they have to be watered. This 

 does not mean flooding or saturating the ground 

 it means giving it moisture. The growing season 

 is so short in the Rocky Mountain region that spuds 

 must be pushed all summer to develop the crop 

 and every interruption by drouth or flooding checks 

 the growth and blights the plans of nature in the 

 plant. 



The grower should study the question of moisture 

 so carefully that he will know beforehand and not 

 let the ground become dry. He should not wait 

 for the plant to wilt and put on its distress signals. 

 Pay no attention to bloom but dig in the ground as 



deep as the roots go and keep the soil moist enough 

 so it will mold when compressed firmly in the hand. 

 When it will not mold under pressure give it more 

 moisture. It is true that we can raise potatoes in 

 ground that is too dry, but we can raise many more 

 when conditions are right and these things keep 

 out disease. 



MAY ISSUE A DANDY 



Editor of THE IRRIGATION AGE : The May num- 

 ber of your paper is a dandy, especially the article by 

 Earl Smith of Arizona. I would like to see more like 

 it, in defense of the settler on the projects. What do 

 you think of the opportunities on The Elephant Butte 

 project just being finished in New Mexico? Would 

 you recommend irrigation from wells in preference to 

 it in west Texas or southern New Mexico? 

 \Yishing you success, I am, 



Respectfully yours, 



Clermont, Iowa. Louis ROUNDS. 



Urge your friends to subscribe for the IRRIGATION AGE 

 and obtain one of our valuable premiums. The AGE is getting 

 better every month. See advertising pages. 



