Mountain Home maverick. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1906-1911, 1906-06-07

tion has contributed the lolloWlhS
paper on irrigation:
The variation in climate and soils
in the arid belt is such that farm
ing requires a close study OF local
conditions and the adoption OF meth
DDS to suit A few general recon-
mendations which are OF wide ap-
plication can, however, be made and
some notes of warning sounded.
The land in its natural state gem
orally throughout the arid region
has a dry subsoil. New land should
therefore be irrigated thoroughly
and enough water applied to moist
en- the soil to a depth of several
feet before any crop is planted.
Such a deep percolation OF water
is an advantage for the roots OF
wheat, oats, potatoes and other
crops penetrating to depth OF three
to four feet. A more uniform sup
ply of moisture may thus be IN
sured, for the subsoil acts as
storage reservoir upon which grow
ing crops may draw The first ir-
rigation on new land takes consider
able time, as a dry subsoil takes up
water more solwly.
Percolation is more rapid at the
second irrigation, for water attracts
water. A thorough irrigation in
advance of seeding will therefore
make later irrigations easier. 1t
may delay planting in spring some
what, especially on heavy soils, yet
it is better to apply the water and
wait till the soil has dried suffi-
GENTLY to be worked safely than to
plant on land with dry subsoil
Early irrigation in spring, while
the weather is yet cold, is to be
avoided, and no crop should be ir-
riagted during its early stages OF
growth. Such irrigation lowers
the temperature of the soil, excludes
the air, retards Modification and by
compacting the soil destroys that
filth which is so necessary in the
seeded in spring. To have sufti-
cient moisture in the soil at the
time of planting for the needs Of
the crop until settled warm weather
has come is by far the most salts
factory arrangement. If the soil is
too dry, irrigate before seeding.
The irrigation of alfalfa too early in
the spring, or of grain just out OF
the ground, retards the growth and
usually gives the crop a sickly,
yellowish appearance. At times 1t
may be necessary to resort to irriga-
ton to bring crops up. Such an
application of water, however,
should be an emergency shift; never
part of the regular plans.
The furrow system comes as near
being an ideal system as any in use.
1t conveys water to the roots with
out compacting the surface soil tc
any great extent, thus leaving it in
fairly good condition to retair
moisture. 1t does not tend to bring
the alkali to the surface quite as
much as flooding does. When once
installed on a field and ''spouts'
or tubes placed in the ditch bank:
1T requires little attention, and The
cost of irrigation is small.
Keeping the soil saturated will
water to the exclusion of air for any
length of time is injurious, so 1t i:
best to irigate as quickly as pos
sibie, which may be done by max
ing the burrows of a REASONABLE,
length. Three hundred feet is gen
orally long enough. Where the fur
rows are very long, the upper par
of the field has received too mucl
moisture by the time the lower i
done When burrows are rul
1engthwise of slope there is mucl
trouble in keeping them from break
ing. Whenever practicable the
should be run straight down tn
slope, no matter bow steep it ma
be. 1t is desirable to have the fur
rows at right angles to the hea
bitches and the bitches 'squar
with the world wherever the cor
formation of the ground permits il
The furrow system may be use
for all crops. Alfalfa, however,
well adapted to free flooding wher
well established, but it is advisabl
TO use burrows the first year. Thes
will facilitate an even distri butio
of the water, though flooding +
practised after the stand has bee
secured.
The chief objection to flooding
the greater cost of irrigation ar
the difficulty of irrigating well ;
night. Also, it compacts the SUI
face soil, and favors excessive eval
Grafton and the rise of alkali, thong
the shading of the ground by crol