Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-09-10
WILL IT PAY TO IRRIGATE.

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dispensable plant food required in large
quantities. On this account II is well to
make q study of whether or not it would
pay TO supply water to crops by artificial
means, which is irrigation. In some coun-
tries no crops can be raised without irriga-
ton, but where an abundant and regular
supply of water can be furnished land OF
apparently very inferior quality is made to
produce abundantly. Now the question
arises, would it pay TO supply water for IT,
rigatlon in countries where the usual de-
pendence is upon rain! 1t is seldom that
season passes that there is not some time
during the season when there IS scarcity of
rain, and crops suffer for want OF water.
perhaps TO the extent of diminishing the
yield one-haIf If supply of water were
available at such times, the crops could be
generously irrigated and made to produce
their usually abundant yield.
In this connection there are several facts
worth considering. Water is absolutely in
dispensable in plant growth = An abundant
supply of water is indispensable in the best
development of crops.
than OF all other components put together.
The water amounts TO from seventy to
nlnety=ive per cent of their makeup.
Water is the vehicle through which plants
receive their other elements of plant food.
1t is the solvent which dissolves the ele-
ments of fertility in the soil, and presents
them TO the growing crops for their use.
I. NJ.
j b. L.awes of England showed that in
wheat raising for every pound OF dry mat
ter produced two hundred pounds of water
was evaporatcd and that for every pound
of mineral matter assimilated by the crop
two thousand pounds of water passed
through the plant. LeguminouS plants,
like beans and clover, require much more
abundant supply of water than wheat. To
meet this demand of plants for water MIR.
I.awes declares the usual supply of rain
water is totally inadequate
Experiments made by the Montsouri ag
ricultural observatory in France fully con-
firm what Mr.. Lawes has advanced. 1t
was there found that for each pound Of
grain produced in the experiments, from
72i TO 1892 pounds of water were evaporated
by the plants. Taking the minimum Guan-
tity of water evaporated for each pound of
grain produced, there would be required
for a crop of thirty bushels of grain per
acre supply of water for evaporation
through the plants alone sufficient TO cover
the field to depth of four inches. Taking
the average of the amount of water re-
quired for each pound of grain produced,
ascertained BY experiments at the same
place in 1873, crop of wheat yielding forty
bushels per acre would require an amount
of water sufficient TO cover the field 10
depth of seventeen inches. Taking into
consideration the large amount of water
evaporated from the surface OF the soil in
addition 10 that required for the plants, 1t
is evident that a large supply of water is
needful to meet all the requirements Of the
growing crop. There facts will serve to
show what large quantities Of water are re-
quired by growing crops. and will also show
how important that in case of drouth there
should De souse means of supplying artifci-
ally what is needed.
The advantages of irrigation, continues
DR.. Reynolds, were well brought out by
results obtained at Stoke Park in England,
in 1871, when forty acres were irrigated so
as to temper the soil when dry weather
came in about the last of March, supplying
moisture regularly and in sufficient guam
tity to prevent the surface from crushing.
Two crops of hay. estimated at five tons
per acre, were taken from this ground, and
afterward in August, 120 Highland bullocks
were turned in averaging three bullocks TO
an acre. These remained till November,
receiving no food but the irrigated grasses,
and We're kept in first-rate condition. On
the other hand, 430 acres of land adjacent
and of same quality, but not irrigated be
came so withered and bare from the sum
mer drouth as to afford scarcely food for
cattle or sheep. In 1888, on six acres of
this same irrigated land 200 sheep were
kept in hurdles in fattening condition
without other food than grass.
Instances have been reported where from
sixty to eighty bushels of wheat have been
obtained from an acre by irrigation. n
Marlboro, Mass, farmer turned the water
of a brook which flowed through town of
5000 inhabitants, ann served in part as a
sewer. and used it in the irrigation of
thirty-acre field. The water was distribu-
ted by means of numerous bitches. During
several years past an annual yield of about
three tons of hay per acre and two cut
tings, with the application of no other fer
tilizers, has been obtained, and the field
continues TO increase i'll productiveness.
The water is kept running upon some por-
ton of the field nearly all the season. being
changed frequently in its course by build
ing and removing small dams.
This statement tempts US 10 break OF
and hint At the great loss some one is sus-
tanning by not arranging to use the sewage
of Fort Worth for irrigating and fertilizing
purposes. The plan OF our sewerage sys-
TEN certainly aforis fine opportunity for
saving an important waste. 1t passes be-
low the city. through the bottom lands of
the Trinity-a continuation OF the pipes no
very great distance beyond where the city
ends them would bring the discharge to
the surface upon an excellent body of bot
tom lands, making them very mine of
wealth to their owners.
Nearly every farm, saws DR.. Reynolds,
contains some portion of land that would
be benefited by irrigation. Some dry
or ~. l;rl,.