The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1897-03-18
AMONG FARMERS.

on Tuesday. Wheat and oats copstitut-
ed the chief part OF the stuff brought to
market. The roads were good and this
favorable condition attracted the farmers.
Frank Daizeil of GeDesee this state,
the man Who has discovered how to raise
potatoes IN winter, is now digging his
second crop. They bring s2.75 per
bushel in Milwaukee.
The farmers of Brown county have
an organization designed to promote
their interests. This IS one Of the re-
suits OF the farmers Institutes held IN
that county. Through this organization
the cultivation of the sugar beet in that
county will be tested and If it proves
successful a sugar factory will be built.
The farmers of this county should
bestir themselves to the end that come
practical escape from the hard times may
be provided for. Politics offers no avenue
and the sooner this conclusion is reached
the better. 1t will soon be definitely de-
termIned whether the cultivation of the
sugar beet IN this state will be profitable
or not. Ii 1T proves SO our people should
be in position to take advantage of it at
once an5 experiments should be IN pro-
gress to determine the character of the
soil best adapted to Its growth and the
cultivation needed to produce best re-
suits. Hard times should spur the farm
er to increased industry and intelligent
inquiry.
-Four years ago the editor of this paper
was In southern California and learned
with surprise that the people there look
ed upon rain as a calamity. They had
means OF irrigation and preferred to have
control of the moisture necessary for the
growth of the crops to trusting to the
ele ments. The cost of irrigation there Is
charge upon the lands. OF late years
the question of Irrigatlng the humid Sec
| tions Of the United States is receiving at
tentlon. Mr.. A. G. Pierce of Manitowoc
Rapids had decided a few years ago to
devise some means of irrIgating his farm,
| but for some reason has not carried out
his purpose.
Mr.. ". d. Hitchcock of Evanston has
lately sent the editor paper read by an
Illinois man on irrigation which is very
Interesting and contains many facts of
value IN this connection In Wisconsin
where irrigation has been tested in the
raising of corn, it appears that the pro-
| duatlveness of the soil has been Increas-
ed four fold. In this case the land was
furnished as much water as the needs of
the crop demanded By means of this
supplementary irrigation, farm of 200
acres near Glasgow Scotland, has return
ed annual gross receipts of from $4,000
to $4,000.
| During the dry years of 1898 and 1894
the garden crops of tbs Illinois eastern
hospital for the insane were almost
| total failure, 1t was decided to put in
an irrigating plant. This was done in
| season for the crop of 1895. The total
proceeds of the crop of that year of 9612
| acres amounted to S6,47S or to the value
of ST., go per acre. In 1896 when irriga-
ton was greatly aided by rains, the in
come was $9,4l0 OF an average Of SIP
per acre. The cost of laying the pipe for
! this tract of $50 acres was 81 800 or $40
per acre. The cost Of distributing the
water, after the irrigating plant is con-
structed, Is Boo. per 100000 gallons.
This Is the amount required for one
! acre, being eight inches of water for the
surface
Where it is possible to obtain a plentl-
ful supply of water the appliances are not
costly. A large reservoir Is necessary
where the water is stored to be used as
occasion requires, A wind mill or cen.
trifugal pump may be used for raising the
water. Cast iron pipe will cost 90 cents
per foot for 3lnch pipe, % cents for A.
inch and 30 cents for 6-inch. The pipe
should be laid below the frost line.
The water is applied by means of
bitches which meander in conformity
with the surface and end in burrows.
4
Flooding is also resorted to. Ard lands
are made fertile by means of water. A
humus is formed by the mere action of
the water on the soil no matter how I'M
productive It may be in its natural con-
ditltn. The lands of southern California
10 their natural state look like desert
OF white sand. They are made to look
like rich bottom lands by means of irrl-
cation.
The Pilot some years urged the advis.
ability OF farmers in this county taking
some steps toward irrigating so as not
to be at the mercy of drouths. If land
can be made to yield twice as much by
this means, it certainly deserves some at.
| tention. There are a number of good
wells and water can be stored in reser-
volrs. Mr.. Hitchcock is likewise of the
opinion that irrigation will aid IN solving
the problem of the future.
GEN. Julio SangIully has announced