The San Francisco call., 1904-10-03
Professor ElwOod Mead Ex-
perimentS With Water
in the Humid Districts
RAIN TOO UNCERTAIN
Scientist Says That Farmers
in Europe Do Not De-
pend on the Downfall
Berkeley Office San Francisco Call,
214S Center Street October 9


As chief of the irrigation investiga-
tion Of the United States Department
Of Agriculture Professor Elwood Mead
who is NOW on his way to California
to take up his duties as professor of
irrigation at the University of Califor-
MIA. has just published a report on the
irrigation investigation in the humid
sections Of the United States during
1893 that will be valuable to all men
interested in agricultural pursuits. The
report deals almost exclusively with
the irrigation of market garden crops
and the deduction he draws is that
such crops cannot be profitably grown
except that farmers irrigate intelli-
gently. Irrigation as an assurance
against drv farming has proved very
profitable TO the Eastern farmers who
had the wisdom not to rely on the rain
that they could not ordinarily expect
He said
There is every reason to believe that as
population Increases and land becomes more
valuable. the zone in which irrigation can be
profitably employed will be extended in this
country, as il has been in Europe With
higher priced crops and more extensive cul-
tiVation, irrigation will inevitably take its place
as an important agency in the agricultural and
Horticultural portions of the Eastern half of
the United States.
Professor Mead summarizes his con-
carried on in the humid sections in
the following manner:
Irrigation can be practiced to advantage
during most OF the years, though there is
occasionally a year when the moisture is suf-
hcient and properly distributed
2-The wells not called upon to furnish
all the water needed for crops, but merely to
supplement rainfall
3-Care must be taken that the soil does
not become too wet
4-The salts in the water and those drawn
from the land have not thus far had any
detrimental effect nor do they give indications
that they will have in the future. All cases
OF deterioration OF the soil are directly trace
able L. over supply of water.
5-Under irrigation the farmer is practically
sure of crop each year.
6-In ordinary or extra dry years the crop
is increased two. and sometimes three fold.
The crops are always of superior quality
grading No when unirrgated crops grade
No. j, or are even rejected.
s-A good two-inch well supplemented by a
reservoir Will furnish water for half a sec
tiOn OF land
knowledge regarding the practical handling
OF water I'm the field and too lavish application
especially II soon followed by rain.
l0-During the last seven or eight years
very little advancement has been made in irri-
cation farming. but at present farmers are
arranging their wells with reference TO prob
able future use. and when the necessity again
arises many VIII be prepared and viii make
use OF their supply. In general those who
have not waited for the necessity to arise. but
have praCticed irrigation part of improved
and intensified farming have found it profit
able. even under the present favorable natural
conditions
Professor Mead devotes some space
to a description of irrigation in New
Jersey, where experiments are bein6
made with asparagus, blackberries,
raspberries. gooseberries, currants and
strawberries.