SOIL SURVEY OF THE MIDDLE GILA VALLEY, ARIZONA. 13 



This table shows a very considerable increase in the acreage of 

 cereals, but a decrease in the acreage of hay and forage crops during 

 the decade, while the value of live stock sold and slaughtered was 

 materially greater at the end than at the beginning of the period. 

 It is certain that the acreage and production of the classes of crops 

 stated have increased since the last census. The value of all crops 

 and live-stock products in 1909 amounted to $406,228. 



Wheat, barley, and corn occupied practically the entire acreage de- 

 voted to the cereals in 1909, and this was true in 1899, though the re- 

 lations between the crops were ditferent. In 1899 the acreage in 

 barley was slightly greater than the acreage in wheat, while in 1909 

 the acreage in wheat was nearly twice that in barley. 



AVheat in 1909 occupied 4,7()2 acres, from w hich the production was 

 57,894 bushels, an average yield per acre of about 12 bushels. There 

 were 2,552 acres in barley, with a production of 58,220 bushels, or an 

 average yield of 22.8 bushels per acre, and 1,275 acres in corn, pro- 

 ducing 13,999 bushels, or about 11 bushels per acre. Corn does not 

 yield well in the hot valley of the Gila River. It is grown under irri- 

 gation. The cereals are grown mainly for home consumption, al- 

 though wheat and barley are cash crops wdth some of the white 

 farmers. 



From these returns it appears that the average yields per acre of 

 the cereal crops are low% and this is substantiated by facts obtained 

 during the survey. The low average yields are in some measure due 

 to the antiquated methods still generally used by the Indians, not- 

 withstanding the efforts of the Government to educate and train 

 them in better farming practices. 



Among the hay and forage crops of 1909, grains cut green for hay 

 occupied 2,721 acres, or more than half the total acreage in such crops. 

 The production of grain hay amounted to 4,119 tons, or an average 

 yield of 1| tons per acre. Alfalfa was the next important hay crop, 

 the acreage being 776 acres, the production 1,569 tons, and the yield 

 per acre a little more than 2 tons. Millet occupied 87 acres, other 

 tame grasses 278 acres, wild grasses 250 acres, and coarse forage 119 

 acres. Millet yielded about 3 tons per acre; the coarse forage be- 

 tween 2 and 3 tons ; and the other crops about 1 ton per acre. 



In this region, where stock runs on the range throughout the year, 

 the production of hay is not likely to be considered very important, 

 but some hay is made by most farmers. The acreage in alfalfa, 

 which decreased greatly between 1899 and 1909, has increased since 

 the latter year, and the area in this crop is extending annually, both 

 on the river-bottom soils and on the desert ranches. This legume is 

 one of the most valuable crops for the desert farms, where water for 

 irrigation can be obtained. The land is flooded in checks and when 

 the supply of water is sutiicient an irrigation is given after each cut- 



