Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1905-06-12
HOW TO RRlGATE SMALL FARMS
Some Excellent Ideas Published by Government
on Private Irrigation Plants
Astonishing Results Attained by Using the Waters Of
Small Streams and Springs at Small Expense
When Crops Need it Most

Irrigation should be recognized as |
an agricultural art of very wide ap-
and value. It's association |
with the idea Of desert reclamation |
has blinded the public mind to it's
value for regions where the need of
reclamation does not exist. Ir1tga-
ton is means of soil improvement
to be employed, like others means of
when the soil needs it.
Water Is the most important food of
plants, not alone because it enters in
such volume into their tissues, but
because without it in adequate amount
the plant can not use other foods in
sufficient quantity. No one questions
the wisdom of the saving and storing
of manures, nor the wisdom of gener-
GUS outlay for commercial fertilizers
when required. The same is true of
soil Improvement by means of drain
age. There should be a similar feel
ing in regard to irrigation.
The most diligent culture and the
most generous fertilization are often
made of no avail, and actual loss is
sometimes incurred because the
farmer has not prepared himself to
supply water when needed. The
water, which he could often provide
for mere fraction of his expenditure
for fertilizers, often for less annual
cost than the interest on his invest
ment in underdrainage, he has neg
lected to have ready for use, and he
sees the hope of return for his years
labor and expenditure fade away dur
ing a few weeks of drought. There
have been cases where water has been
stored at considerable expense as a
protection against fire in barns and
has remained unused while some valu-
able crop was burning up in the
garden. Such losses are largely due
to two things: First, the notion that
irrigation is of Importance only in arid
regions; and, second, ignorance of the
ease and cheapness with which a
farm water supply can be stored and
distributed. 1t is very important that
the value and availability of water for
irrigation should be recognized and
supply provided on each farm.
Irrigation Insures a Crop.
Irrigation, moreover, is not merely
a recourse to insure the safety Of a
crop. 1t has been demonstrated be-
yond question both by practical ex-
oerience and by systematic expert
nent that growth and production can
be profitably pushed by irrigation
even when the natural moisture seems
ample, and in this respect irrigation
aligns itself with fertilization and
cultivation as a factor in intensive
culture.
Another error grows out of the
arge scale upon which irrigation is
known to be carried on, in
7olving canals and bitches too ex-
oensive for individual undertaking.
The impression is made that consid-
srable capital and engineering skill
ire necessary to success; but as a
natter of fact profitable irrigation is
easily attainable by small effort. 1t
ends itself readily to small individual
II cooperative undertaking, develop
ng water whose presence may be al
most unsuspected, or utilizing water
which ordinarily is either wasted or is
/ positive detriment when not turned
% profitable service. 1t is the pur-