The state herald., 1895-05-03
IRRIGATION MATTER.
when and How to water Land And crop.

when and How to water Land AID Crops
Tho 49,. wv first duty Of the irrigntor
who has hls lapls Ia rroper shape 70
iftigate; ID to turn the water Oh - SUM
cieat y6iutne to thSrohghiy wet Abe
ground, including the spb-soii: In all
cases where water can 10 6btafned IN
the autumn. after the scason's cr5ps
are harvested and before the ground
freezes up, turn on 4 volume equal to
4 to inches Of water, which will coax
into the ground and much 1T II It'll be
stored there to assist in supplying the
requirements for thu ngxtyenr's crops
| If this has been done, then when Tie
frost leaves the ground In the spring
the soil will be found to be quite friable,
MS the freezing expanded the earth
particles it left inteistices between
these particles into which mir finds its
way. 1t would seem that air is as i'm
poy.ant and rs necessary for plant life
any II us II Is fof hniinal life.
Therefore, every effort must be made to
retain this mir in the soil. A flood Of
water drives the mir out, but If the
water be allowed to soak away into
the soil and the soil allowed to assume
q normal condition before being stirred
the air will follow the rcceding water
and again take lis place. In good
time before blowing in the spring Water
the ground thoroughly. When in good
working condition, pillow carefully,
then rs soon us possible harrow or
otherwise pulvcrize the soil very fine.
Cultivation, careful cultivation, intense
cultivation is more important from now
on until crop is harvested, than water.
Do not depend on water alone, but
dsA p!e more on careful and intense
Iss swi.. ,4.!ioti 70 produce the big crop
yields. Many irrigators just Under
TALKING farming by irrigation nrc liable
to drown the crops besides they will
waste the water by putting too much
on tho ground during the growing sea-
son, by watering too much Mt time or
too often.
As we have already called attention
to the evil OF driving the air out OF the
soil by flooding with water, there is
another way of driving out the life
| giving air without drowning it out,
and that is to work the ground when
1t Is too wet. Stirring wet soil lsncads
| it into compact masses, driving the air
out OF the intcrstices, which should al
ways remain between the earth par
tclcs. This produces ''puddlcd' or
...hakea" tondition. For the same rea-
son, as soon after watering the growing
CROPS that require cultivation as the
soil Is in proper condition to work, a
suitable implement. should be used to
pulverize the surface over which the
water flowed, which will agnin permi,
the air TO enter the soil.
1t, MI crcps iea,iitine cultivation the
surface of tho soil cannot be kept too
iinciy puire.:--cd' q.
Coru-If the irrigator has comp,,o..
with the foregoing. let him plant the
corn md cultivate it carefully and there
will, probably not he required any fur.
Their irrigation until the staihs begin
TO tassie -Whan II thu cultivation lid.
been done by what is known AS the
level" system, then with large single
shovel pillow Ia single lister will answer
let him run Il futrow midway Between
the rows for the water to run down
through. Then i@heE irrig3tiiig the
water mist bs confined to the fnrrbw,
so that it may not spread over the
ground about the roots of the stalks
II it does. njury will be done through
baking. since 1t will be quite mp ssibls
TO break up the baked crust about the
roots OF the growing plants Tho
water soaking into the gro md from
the furrow spreads through the soil Il
the corr rows IN -nch side OF the fur
row. As soon after watering lis IN,
soil is in proper condition suitable
implement shonld be used to gathel
tie soil bnck into the fnrrow, at the
same timo disturbing the corn roots n,
little as possible. One more watering
will be ample and should b. done about
the time the corn Is Ia good roasting
ear" filling ,ip the furrows rs before
Sorghum, ka1,r corr add other Kin
bred crops should be wnicrcd Ia simi
lar manner to that of corn.
Potatoes potatoes should he
watercd In The same manner Us corn,
lest results are obtained by killing
the potatoes as IL is called, that Is by
throwing the dirt to the rows OF potn'
toes with n pillow. this leaves deep
furrow between the rows No water
ia 10 he used unit the inbrrs have set.
II watered Immediately before bctt ng
n greater nulnba, of potatoes will be
formed than the plant can support,
and consc ucntly but few of them will
grow large enough for the market
When the tnbcr> have net then turn
the water Into the burrows, being care.
full not to hi the burrows too full,
otherwise should the water flow over
the hill and aga ms, the vine. or plants
the soil will bake" and besides the
water "scalis" Tire plants. Once the
irrigation OF potatoes has commenced
tie water must Ice turned into the fur.
rows every : or . days until the iub-rs
hare developed To the size desired.
when the watering Is to be Discontinued
AMI the soil allowed to dry ont. no as
tp ripcn the potatoes in good form.
At,er. every watering. NJ soon as the
soiI isin proper condition n suitable
tool shonld be employed and drawn
by u horse. TO break up the crust that
otherwise would form In the furrow
through which tie water flowed.
Sweet Potatocs-should he irrigated
In similar manner to that OF Irish
potatoes. but may he watered when
setting ont rs well ms before the tubers
bet.
Root crops such rs turnips, beets,
carrots, etc. may lie watercd ut any
time after planting, provided the same
care Is taken TO keep tho soil In n mel.
low condition.
onions do best In rich soil and
need watering often enough to keep
the soil moist, but not wet Intense
surface cultivation is required to insure
big yield.
! xstnhbagc and cauliilower require FIRE.
1 1ncnt watering.
Celery requires even more wn'cr than
cabbage.
Tomatoes require much less water
than other vegetables
Pumpkins aud melons require fire.