Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1894-05-24
sub-1rrigation---A Caution

Wherever the luea OF suo-lfTlBhblon
may have originated, its present pop
ularity as matter of discussion
seems to have grown out of successes
in the greenhouse by means of it.
In the widespread interest which
has been excited in anything pertain
ing to irrigation Of late, many speak
ers aud writers have advocated sub
irrigation 10y means Of thing sunk in
the ground as an excellent means Of
solving various problems connected
with the general subject.
As result of this and in spite Of
the knowledge that this system would
prove very expensive; that the condl
tons which it proved useful in che
greenhouse were never to be met with
elsewhere, and in spite of the fact
that nobody tested It's usefulness on
the farm, information now comes
through the press that farmers In
western Kansas have prepared and
others are now preparing to use this
system upon a somewhat extended
scale, during the present season,
Some of the difficulties to be met
and overcome by those who adopt
sub.irrigation will be climatic. others
mechanical. The climate in all
regions where irrigation is necessary
is excessively dry, and the evapora
ton enormously repaid. 1t follows
then, that il the dispersion of the
water through the soil should be slow,
the evaporation will have to take up
the water before it shall have accom-
plisbed its purpose.
While the soil in the irrigation dis
trlcts is very Of such nature as to
admit of the freest circulation oil
water, it will be seen that another
difficulty will present itself IN the
gradual filling up of the pores OF the
thing from the sediment i'll the water,
and thus prevent the rapdlty OF
movement SO necessary IN growing
season. Nor has it yet been estab
lished that any other application OF
water thar in the manner provided
by nature, VIZ, surface application, Ut
IN rain storms, will be as beneficial II
plant growth.
Some conclusions lately arrived al
by the Utah Experiment Station from
experiments made there, are here
quoted as directly in point. They
are: ~ Sub-irngation, whether by
large open drains or by the cement
pipe system, fails to supply moisture
enough for growing crops. ~ The
lateral movement Of water was to-
!, slow to furnish the requisite supply
for the evaporation Of plants, being
at the rate Of very few inches poi
day. (3) The sub'lrrIgatlon soil wa
warmer that the surface-lrrlgatlol
soil. (4) The atmosphere around th'
plants, to the height of twelve inches
was warmer by sub-lrrlgatlon thar
by surtace-irrigrtion. (5) The sub
, irrigation plat did not contain a
much moisture as the surface-lrriga
ton plat. (6) 1t Is concluded tina
for this locality the lateral movement
Of water cannot be made rapid enougl
for maximum crop growth. ~ Th
system is too costly for ordinary farm
-, crops"
While sub-irrigation by means 0
! thing or perforated pipes undoubted
ly has its uses, and while it may flu
valuable place in our agriculture
yet, in the absence of any widespread
experience to prove that its place ha
been determined, the writer woul,
y caution farmers against undertaking
! it except in a very limited way unit
It's value is better known.
The initial expense is considerable
and If the plant proves not to b
highly effective, it can only be con
sidered as so much loss-I. d. Gro
ham in Manhattan IndNStrjdbSt.
-Es---
r The following from Hon. Wn
+ Bryan, the brilliant young congress
It man from Nebraska, declining re
Y nomination at the hands of his party
It is to the point on the political situs
Q ton of today. lie expresses SON
If doubts as to the future Of his party
s saying: If the presidents tnanc6
r policy becomes the policy Of the part
d I do not see any reason for the con
8 tinued existence Of the party, becaus
IS the republicans having followed tha