Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1901-03-13
IRRIGATION EXPERIMENTS.
4 Report From Agricultural Experiment
Station.

- HNfNA NhNAh ~
Station.
There will shortly be issued Il sec
ond bulletin from the agricultural
experiment station on experiments
made by Director Fortier ON the use
and waste OF water in irrigation.
Oi the work in western Montana
Director Fortier speaks as follows:
"The Bitter Root valley, from an
agricultural point Of view, il one OF
the most important in Montana and
one of hemostbeautiiulin the Rocky
mountain region. Irrigation investi-
cations were begun in May, 1900, and
continued throughout the eason
The cost Of travelling between the
Yellowstone, Gallatin and Bitter
Root valleys took a part of our small
appropriation, and the work Of the
past season in western Montana
would have been limited in extent
had 1t not been for the generous aid
extended to the writer by the officers
of the Bitter Root stock farm. The
materials and labor necessary tocOn-
struct three large trapezoidal weirs,
one rating flume and several rating
stations were obtained from this
source. A rating station was estab-
lished near the head OF each vi the
large canals taken out Of the Bitter
Root river and Skalkaho and Grid
creeks soon after the beginning oithe
irrigation season and daily records
kept by Mr.. Kippen, in charge OF irri-
CATION, OF the amount Of water flow
ing in each. Ii these stations and
records can be maintained for another
season 1t will bepossible to ascertain
the duty Of water during two seasons
of an irrigated area OF about 1900
acres.
"The upper part OF the valley con-
sists Of bottom lands, lower bench
lands and upper bench lands. The
older bitches, such as the Surprise
and Republican, water the river bot
toms; the intermediate bitches, such
as the Ward Hedge, water the lower
bench, while OF late years nighttime
bitches, such as the Upper Grid, have
been constructed TO supply water to
the upper benches. These water
courses, located one above another,
on the sloping bench Of the Bitter
Root river, complicate the problem
of seepage water. Already some d
the farms. and especially the orchard
tracts, are depreclating In value, ow'
ing to an excess of secpagc water
from the higher benches. This injury
to low.lying lands will continue IL
increase II radical measures are not
taken either to lessen the waste Ol
construct intercepting drains. BE
fore attempting any Improvement
OF this character it is advisable tt
ascertain the loss from seepage il
each canal.
; 1.-THE first experiment ON the duil
Of water in the Bitter Root valley
was made on a40-acre tract OF l.ycur
old orchard trees located on th,
Lower Ward ranch ofthe BltterRoO
stock farm.
"The soil to a depth OF six inches i
, a light vegetable loan and beneatl
this top layer to IA depth Of four fee
: are to be found gravel and cobbl
; rock.
''The water was measured over
t%rapezoidnl weir box twelve feetlon.
: and a weir notch three feet long
The rainfall during the growing sea
| son was obtained from C. W. Dough
: erty, weather observer at Corvallis
a few miles distant. This rainfall
: together with the water applied II
I four irrlgations, would have covered
the orchard, provided there was nj
waste, to a depth OF a trifle NOR
than Is Inches