The Lewiston teller. (Lewiston, Idaho) 1900-1905, 1903-04-17
The Duty Of Water d Mont.n. and Utah

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Much useful information regarding the
duty of water. as determined by investi-
cations in the irrigation of land in Mon
tana and Utah is given in bulletin IIo
recently issued by the Office of expert
ment stations of the department of agri-
culture. The object sought in making
measurements at the experiment station
at Montana during the year 1901 was to
determine the quantity of water used by
farmers in irrigating staple crops under
/ usual conditions. In selecting the fields
1 for detail work care was taken that they
should represent average conditions. The
fact was recognized that there is great
difference in the efficiency of bitches.
some, by reason of their length and the
character of material through which they
pass. lose large percentage Of the vol
ume of water which passes their head
gates. Since it was desired to ascertain
the quantity required TO irrigate growing
crops, the water was measured is it en-
tered the field In this way the losses OF
water by seepage and evaporation were
practically eliminated from field expert
ments which were conducted at the ex-
pertinent station at Bozeman. The land
was used principally for the growing of
grain. clover and alfalfa. 1t should be
noted that the soil consists of from four
to FIVE feet of 'oam and marty clay under
laid with an undetermined depth of
gravel and cobble stones. A few of the
IL experiments made at the station may
be taken as fairly representative.
Field No. I, in clover, was irrigated
twice between May and September 7.
The depth of water used in irrigation was
II inches, rainfall inches; total depth of
water received during growth. Ie inches.
In field No 2, also 10 clover, the depth
of water applied in three irrigations dur
ing the growing sea son was ~ inches,
rainfall inches; total depth received, 40
inches. The yield OF clover FROM this
field was 81 tons an acre.
An experiment with field of wheat is
reported showing two irrigations, one in
June and the other in July, during which
the depth of water applied by irrigation
was I4H inches and rainfall FIVE inches. |
making 1914 inches OF water applied TO
the land during the growing season. The
yield was 43 bushels an acre.
Lands under Middle Creek canal. com.
prising an area of 3Isb acres. cultivated
in grains and clover, received depth of
IS inches by irrigation and inches by
rainfall making total OF 81 inches of
water used between May and Septem-
Der so. This, however, is the quantity
measured at the headRate and included
loss by seepage and evaporation.
An interesting experiment on 4o-acre
tract Of 6-year-old orchard on the Bitter
Root stock farm shows that by four irri-
cations, between April IS and September
2. depth Of IS inches of water was APP
piled, to which should be added rainfall
OF inches, making total depth Of a
inches OF water used upon the orchard
during the season.
In the Investigations in Utah consider
able attention was given to the determine
alton of the quantity Of water lost by
seepage This was found to vary much
WIN the section of ditch Investigated.
FROM measurements on the Bear River
canal Il is concluded that the loss of
water after 1t passes the headgate may be