The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1895-09-07

Results OH the Turgeon Farm Sureass
-Four Tons Of Hay to the Acre
Two Crops OF Grass 80 to 100 Bush
els Of Corn per AcEe-Wl,at an Arte-
sian Well Accomplishes.
SO much has already been said OF the
irrigated Turgson farm. 1t may seem
like a waste Of words and time TO further
elhmerate and depict the methods and
results OF the experiments on this farm.
Nevertheless most of these reports have
been published from hear-say, and not
personal observations, and this being
the case 1t might be not only interest
ing but profitable to give a few facts as
they exist. To this end representa-
tive of the GRAPHIC visited the farm
this week. 1t is a hard matter to make
a Us mile drive and thoroughly investi-
gate matter OF this kind in one days
time. But, Notwithstanding long and |
tedious ride, it would be profitable trip
for anyone to make ut even twice the
distance, ana one not to be regretted
MT. TurgeOn receives daily visitors and
spends much time in showing them his
experiments. the results Of which even
to him have been most surprising.
The Turgeon farm consists of three
quarter sections OF land, mostly on the
Missouri river bottom, and the greater
part OF 1t lying in a position SO as to
make irrigation not very difficult
matter. 1t is a5out mile distant
from the bluffs TO the river ana about
two-tmrGs OF that distance the land lies
level as floor, with gradual slope
| south and east the water running in
either direction with but little djtchine.
The we'll is located about one half mile
from the river on a high point
about lC0 feet above the riverlevcl and,
as has before been said i'll these columns
is CSC feet deep, has an S-inch flow of
about 10 inches above the pipe and WIS
put down at an expense Of $1,000.
Three bitches were surveyed, running
west. east and south from the well and
are about 4 feet wide by inches, to one
foot deep. The two main bitches, how
ever, are the ones running east and
south and forming right angie OH the
north and west boundary lines of two
fields of corn. about SIS acres, and which
is the chief crop raised this year on this
farm. The ditch running west is on the
north side OF 200-acre meadow, which
is enclosed by wire fensc and used for
hay land.
Last fall this meadow was run over
by a prairie fire, and Tie ground being
so dry, it left the mraAGW looking as
though i, had been plJ,.ud and appar-
emily destroyed the very roots of the
grass. MIR. Turgeon saya this spring he
dug up some OF tho ro3,a and at time
was satisfied that it wo,.lG take three
years for the ground to 2et in its former
/ condition and was pnzzied TO know
where to get hay for the coming winter.
Early in the spring he ran the whole
flow Of the artesian well OH this ground.
and, as he was very busy, and out for
several weeks looking for the body of his
drowned brother, neglected to turn off
the water. The consequence was that
when he looked over his field he found it
all under water-seycral feet deep OH
parts of the ground, and it looked like
a big lake rather than meadow. At
the time he not only thought that the
chances of getting any hay from the
field were lessened by his negligence,
but that the soil would be injured by
the sun baking it, as there was no vcge-
tatlon OF any kind to shield the ground
from the sun. Mr.. Turgeon had promised
a nelghbor to let him nave part use Of
the well, hut after time. when the
water had soaked into the ground, and
for long time not a sign of grass on
the field was seen, this neighbor refused
to have any arteslan water running on
his land, saying that it sourei the soil,
killed the plants, etc, etc. The prairies
were green before there were any signs
OF green spear of grass on the field.
But finally il started, thicker than ever
before. and how it grew Mr. Turgeon
says he never even imagined Of anything
| growing as the grass did on that land.
1t was simply astonishing. 1t ten weeks
alkali grass five feet high had grown,
end some grass he cut yielded nearly
four tons per acre and the quality was of
the very best. Aperson not being aware
that the grass had once been cut off the
field would not no knew il, the grass
having grown up again since lis cutting
and the meadow is now being used for a
pasture for horses.
Much has been said of the coin on this
farm, and we'll there might be. 1t
would seem impossible to find any better
corn. And yet, just twice has been
water applied to the field At each time
after the cesg IN .een injured to a
more or less extent lf the drouth-Mr
Turgeon having so mach else to attend
to he did not apply the water in time
Still two liner fields OF corn could not .bt
dSheu lOl. W. lcil VI Illt6pu leel INC
the corn and you are invisible. You
find upwards from four stalks OF corn il
in each hill and we'll cared. Pumpkins
were plaEted with the corn and the vines
are so high and thick that It makes it
difficult walking. Daily estimates of
experienced farmers place the yield al
the way from 70 to 100 bushels per acre
The bitches running on two sides of
the Geld are SO that they can be tappet
atany point and let the waterr run through
the fields in two different directions in
small burrows at every other row. 1t tool
eight days time OF one man to irrigate
these tields-hvc and one half days fol
the larger and two and one half days
for the smaller field. A great contras!
is seen between these two fields and +;
field not more than so rods distance
lru1V