RECLAIMING THE DESERT 183 



of 5,164,000 acres in farms, cropped only 1,659,000 

 acres last year. Similar proportionate conditions ex- 

 ist in other states located in this section of the 

 United States. 



"The major portion of this untilled land in the 

 East is susceptible of being reclaimed. Much of it 

 only awaits the plow. Other portions need clear- 

 ing of second growth. In most of these states are 

 thinly-peopled regions, the inhabitants living on a 

 soil skimmed of its cream that with fertilizer may 

 be made producing farms. Large communities with 

 their concentrated populations afford a ready market 

 with short truck hauls and low transportation." 



Buying fertilizers instead of building dams is 

 the reclamation method of the East. Although east- 

 ern reclamation may be a state problem as Dr. Work 

 contends, the national government has shown its 

 willingness to help by appropriating $100,000 for 

 studying soil conditions in co-operation with states. 



