The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1895-07-19
WIN AT LAWN TENNIS
The Victor Tennis Team Of Mitchell De.
feat the ParkStOn Team in a Close
and Exciting Match Game.
HUNTERS IRRIGATION FARM.
Impressions of the Great Farm as Re
ccivcd by n Mitchell Party

impressions OF the Great Farm as Re-
ccivcd by Mitchell Party.
Fl. F. Hunters irrigated farm at Mel
lette, 100 miles north of Mitchell, is
attracting the attention of business
men and farmers from all over the
state, because its ability to demonstrate
the practical methods Of showing what
can be done in the way of artesian ir.
rigation. A party of Mitchell gentle
men, consisting of Messrs. Frank Wei
Ter, John Helwig, S. Weber, F. E.
Clark, VIM. M. Smith, E. S. Johnston,
and M. Lawrence went to Mel
lette Saturday evening to make
a personal investigation of ar
tesian irrigation and Monday morning
THE REPUBLICAN representative had
a talk with Mr.. Weller as TO what they
saw up there. The crops from Woon-
socket north to Redfeld we're poor but
from Redfeld to Mellette they made an
excellent showing, and in passing Red
field they had an opportunity to see the
Riggs artesian we'll, which furnishes
water for an immense amount of land.
Arriving at Mellette they became the
guests of Mr.. Hunter, who endeavored
to make the evening pass pleasantly
by giving them descriptions of the farm
and relating anecdotes that were highly
amusing to the party. Sunday morn.
ing, bright and early, Mr.. Hunters
coach and four drove around to the
hotel and gathered up the Mitchell
party and proceeded to the irrigation
accompanied by H. w. Meserve, who
has charge of the irrigation features OF
the farm. The farm consists of SOC
acres and nearly as smooth as the floor,
ton. The reservoir, covering five
acres of ground, is located on the high.
est point of the farm and is five feet
deep. The we'll is ,06O feet deep, g.
inches in diameter, has pressure of 165
pounds to the square inch, flows zoe
gallons per minute and cost Mr.. Hun
ter So 800.
From the reservoir one main ditch,
y feet wide, conducts the water to the
land, the embankment being thrown up
high so that the water is much higher
than the surface, and from the main
ditch the water is emptied into lateral
bitches so that every foot OF land can
be irrigated with the least difficulty.
Mr. Meserve's idea in irrigating is tc
wet the soil thoroughly in the fall and
early part of the winter and with such
a thorough soaking the land will need
but little water for matter of two
years.
This year Mr.. Hunter has in 40 acres
OF oats, which will average 100 bushels
60 acres Of wheat, that will turn out &C
bushels to the acre; 10 acres of corn
that promises big yield; POO acres Of
potatoes that will average 200 bushels
to the acre: 80 acres of flax: 20 acres o.
garden. There $500 varieties of seeds
furnished by the Salzer Seed Co. of Lie
Crosse, Wis, which are being tested by
experiment to see what can be grow
successfully in this country. Among
them are the ST. Johns imported rye
and an English Chaff wheat which are
sowed in the spring, used for pasture
in the summer and fall and harvested
the following year.
An experimental station, under the
direction Of the Brookings agriculture
college, known as ''the dry test" from
which comparisons will be made from
the growth OF seeds on the Sale,
plat of ground, which is under irriga
ton. Precisely the same treatmen
will be given both plats, but the "drS
test will receive no water whatever
other than rain. A complete record
will be kept of the climatic conditions
time of termination and conditions dur
ing growth of erything until its ma
turity. Thus it will be possible to di.
tingush at a glance what irrigation will
accomplish for this state.
AS all varieties OF tree seeds, grasses
cereals, forage plants and vegetable
| are planted, it will also be possible t
i 4 I lf