Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1895-05-09
TOPICS FOR FARMERS
a DEPARTMENT PREPARED FOR
OUR RURAL FRIENDS.

The Need of Irrigated Fields on Many
Small Farms - Some Agricultural
Branches that Are Not Overdone-
The Fruit Crop-Farm Notes!
| Irrigation on the Farm.
The need Of irrigated fields on many
small farms Is felt by the owner every
dry season, but where there is no regu-
lar organized system it is sometimes
expensive, and in other cases out Of
the question to attempt irrigation. But
where ponds or streams Of water are
located on the place, or even some dis
lance off on another property, the water
can be led to the fields by means Of
pipes, and then distributed over the
land to suit the needs Of the crops. The
cost of this would be very little. A
| pipe, or even a wooden water-trough,
could be constructed so that the water
would flow in series of bitches or re-
| ceiving ponds. Brooks and streams of
water can be tapped very easily in this
way, so that the running water will
not be entirely wasted while the farm
crops are dying for thirst. In each in
stance. however, the farmer must use
his Judgment as to the best method Of
getting his water to the fields.
Then the water can be spread over
the fields by some of the approved
methods of irrigation. On fields that
are nearly level the greatest difficulty
will be experienced in getting the water
to run equally throughout the field.
One way to do this is to construct
| bitches on either side of the field, and
bank them up a foot higher than the
field. At right angles from these
bitches parallel rows for the vegetables
should be made. The water should
then be run into the banked-up bitches
until 1T overflows. At every row the
water will run down in a stream, and
secure force enough to carry part of it
at least to the middle of the garden.
Similar streams coming from the oppo-
site direction will meet in the middle,
and In this way the whole ground will
be flooded with water when needed.
To obtain water in this way it may be
necessary to construct receiving ponds
higher than the level of the field. These
must be filled before the drought and
when the spring floods are high. If the
pond is naturally several feet higher
than the field, the slope will be suff-
Gent to dispense with any such artifi-
cial ACKNOWLEDGMENT Tele-
graph.
Crops Profitable to Raise.
There are few branches of farming
not overdone. There is so little buck
wheat raised that the -four sells at 5
cents pound. Then there is a greater
demand for good sorghum than there is
a supply. Flax Is very high when you
want to buy; why not raise some to
feed? 1t will improve the stock. Fruit
raising Is not overdone and potatoes
will bring paying price If the crop is
well tended. Grass seeds and clover
seed bring living prices. Cabbage IS
hard to raise, but it pays to raise for
market. There is money in cheese at
Is to 20 cents per pound. Stock your
farms with COWS, build a creamery and
sell milk. There is more money In it
than making butter. 1t pays to raise
sweet potatoes. The navy bean sells
at cents per pound and is scarce.
Seed down your farms and pasture
stock at IS cents per month. Farm bet
ter what you do farm, raising the best.
Read the papers and raise tho crops
that are scarce, for they always COM
mand good price. Vote for the party
that will set the manufactures going,
and my word for it, when all the people
get TO working they will take to eating
and they will make way with much Of
the surplus and at better prices than
now.-Farm and Home.
Our Fruit Crop.
The fruit crops of this country in
crease with every years planting, and
yet the supply is unequal to the de-
mand. The quality Of the fruit deter
mines the latter. II it is good, not only
Is the demand for home consumption
greater than In any other country in
the world, but so also is the foreign
demand. The reasons for this are ap-
parent. The farms Of the United States
are in the main owned by those who
occupy them, and they plant for all
time, without any fear of being dis
possessed Of their improvements. The
growth Of an orchard Is a work of
time, and only the owners can afford to
plant large orchards. When their fruits
are gathered and placed on the market
they present attractions to the people.
the consumers, of such a character as
to be perfectly irresistible, hence more
fruits are purchased for home con-
sumption and more consumed every
year. But then the same qualities that
commend and make them popular here
! at home, that is to say size, quality,
beauty and cheapness, commend them
to people abroad, make them popular,
and increase the demand.
In Great Britain alone the call for
our fruit increases every year, and this
year, II the crop is only what the pro-
ducers expect, 1t will be greater than
ever, and many ship loads Of apples
and other fruits will 60 there. The
great thing to be looked to, however,
IL the prevention Of injury by insects