Monthly Consular Reports Volume 292-294 (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1905 edition. Excerpt: ...the conditions of climate and soil playing an important part; but the opinion is gaining ground that irrigation is one of the chief insurances against crop failures. An article appears in the Periodical for Agrarian Politics with reference to soil irrigation in Germany, which treats of a report. by Dr. Traugott Mueller, of the agricultural department, on American irrigation. Doctor Mueller has traveled in the United States in connection with the World's Fair. He writes: 5 "Just at the moment I had the opportunity to note in the Far West of the United States the development of a vegetation with really wonderful rapidity and luxuriousness, the richness of which, in contrast with the surrounding desert, it is scarcely possible to describe credibly, _ the daily papers of Europe were filled with complaints over the food famine brought about by the drought. The desert of America had to assist in part to alleviate the wants of Europe. From irrigated farms in Nevada whole shi loads of lucern hay were shipped to Atlantic ports for Europe. The ay was grown upon fields for which the scant water supply had been artificially collected and sparingly distributed, an'd was sent to lessen the consequences of the drought in Europe, where numerous small and large streams are sending their waters continually to the sea. The question forced itself upon the observer, How is it that this insurance policy is not yet practiced by us? The idea is not a new one with us, but it is a different thing to carry it out. We have known for many years what enormous quantities of fertilizing material our streams and rivers carry off, and we have known how much our acres and the plants thirst at times for water. VVe also know the fructifying effects of water, even...