Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1896-03-19
1H IRRIGATION.
II. Il. Hunters Address Before the
Redield Convention.

The following is an extract from All
interesting and practical address de-
livcred by Hon. II. +. Hunter before
the Teccn irrigation convention at
Redfcld. He said:
"lE speaking on This subject | viii cOnfne my
self 20 the results 0btP ined on the fiuntar-SalEar
farm at Mcllettc, As most OF You are aware, we
Conducted an experimental station there during
the past season with most satisfactory result; I"
fact, we we're all surprised at the Wonderful sue
cess Of the experiment. We find that all kinds
or grains, vegetables, grasses gnd forage plants
psCally grUNu In illinois, iowa, Wisconsin or
Minnesota can be- grown most successfully here.
With irrigation we are sure of ms large a cgop
e'try year ~ they are In their best season, nd
| find in travelling through these states th@t they
have their poor years rs well as, Dakota. Ihe
Il Hd used for tie experiment has not been ire
gated since the fell Of 1894, and has retained
Penny OF moisture since, thus showing thar 4 is
possible 10 grow two good crops with one april
cation of water. This il where we have Il great
advantage over countries where they have TO irri-
gate several times ",ch season, our black lCam
and clay subs0il holds the moisture u long time,
as we have no subdra'nage and our eyaporating
sei son u short. one piece on lana irrigated IN
the fall at 1893 produced Gn bushels Of oats in
1894, and 81 bushels Of wheat In 1875. Last fall
IL pl0wcd mp nice und moist, and L expect VIII
grow "A good crop of potatoes In 1896 without irri-
eating. The fact l., II We have any moisture In
our suhsOil, we have rain cnCaga to grow a crop
every year.
The result OF irrigation the past season was 81
bushels OF wheat per acre, 7Sk bushels of oats,
SlU DlshtlS OF lOtdiDes, Is tons OF millet. Corn
yielded only 30 bushels, rs we were late in plant
Ing and most OF It got frosted early in the fall.
Unirrigatcd wheat yielded u bushels, oats 20
bushels, corn 10 bushels, millet one-half ton, UO-
tatocs 80 bushels. The largest yield of wheat
on the farm was 3Tla bushels to the acre in
1898. It being irrigated about the time it began
to head. The smallest yield was "a bushels in
1895. on land irrigated in the fall of 1894. Oats
III this farm In 1894 averaged 60 bushels per acre
from fall irrigation. In 1895 they were irrigated
during the growing season and averaged 7Sia
l bushels believe that The Weld of both wheat
and oats would have been larger IL we had used
III bushels Of wheat and 2H bushels of oats.
| The best results were obtained from potatoes
by lrTigating them when in blossom. Water
should be run between the rows and not allowed
to get upon the vines. They should be cultivated
as soon as possible after applying the water 10
| prevent the land from baking. As irrigation pro-
longs their growth, late varieties should be planted
early to mature before the fall fros.s. :,
SThe same conditions apply to corn. IL should
not be- irrigated late In the season AID early va
| rieties should BE- used. l believe IN fail iTrlga-
| ton for grain, or after it is up high enough TO
| shade the ground. Potatoes, corn and all hoed
! crops should be irrigated during the growing sea
son and then cultivated. Deep blowing brings best
| results.
| Irrigation Is no longer an experiment in South
| Dakota. our farm OF 500 arcres Will pay q per
| cent ON n valuation Of 500 per acre. III more
| than paid 10 the past season. Ten dollars per
| acre will put our prairie lands under n most COM
| plete system of irrigation. There Is more water
In South Dakota to-day than there are farmers
| who know how 10 use II, and many VIII fail 10
| spread the wates over much land the first year,
| They must not be discouraged. My advice Is 10
| build a good reservoir first, then make bitches rs
| needed. Arrange crops to always have land 20
| MS. the water on. Keep the well going night and
| day. Every time you have a good head OF water
In the reservoir spread it on the land-dont pay
| any attention 10 rains. DO not irrignte the same
| piece of land twice until you have gone over your
| whole farm. After you have irrigated a field
| once IL Is much easier TO do ~ the second time.
| because YOU know how to handle the water and
| the land does not require rs much. Do not try
to spread the water unless you have a good sup
| pIy in the reservoir 10 work with. Make a large
| opening in the ditch and rush the water over the
feld. This f. the secret OF successful irrigntion
on level land.