Mountain Home maverick. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1906-1911, 1906-06-21

spcct to depth of saturation and the
capillary action of water ?' Super
intendcnt Mcpherson was asked.
cit is probably true that the soil
on the Twin Falls tract has neve IT
been moistened by precipitation
to a depth of more than two feet,
end a person digging hole or
cistern or ground which has never
been irrigated will find that after
depth Of two feet has been pass
ed the soil will become dryer and
dryer
.'What effect does the existence
of this deep bed of dry soil have
upon cultivated crops ?'
1.-THE soil on the Twin Falls tract
varies from one to 40 feet or more
in depth, and as the roots of plants,
especially alfalfa, will penetrate the
soil to a depth of II to 25 feet, de-
pending upon conditions, the ground
must be moistened to greater
depth than precipitation will pro-
duce. Therefore, the first year
the land requires greater amount
of water than it will subsequently.
''Water only goes into the soil
under pressure, and the longer the
pressure is maintained, the deeper
will be the saturation, although
when irrigating, the water should
not be allowed to run too long at
one time, as it saturates the soil,
excluding the air and retarding
plant growth. The excess of water
in the soil will continue to perco-
Il ga tT-x-t tr|t,
has ceased. The action of water in
connection with plant growth is not
very well understood by many
Frequently soil will absorb nearly
half of it's bulk in water, but this
condition must not be maintained,
as the plants would be unable to as
simulate the water and would be
drowned out. Plants can only use
apillary water, or water which as
celds. To illustrate this-if you
were to take ball of snow or a
lump of sugar and let it touch
water, the water will Immediately
begin tc climb until the entire
lump is moistened, the water coat
ing every portion of the snow or
sugar or soil, leaving interstices for
the admission of air. The lump
of sugar, snow or soil will absorb
just the amount of water it needs
to moistcn it and no more. If
you try to force any more than
that amount into the soil you will
dro vn out the plant. 1t is the
ascending water, or the water
drawn up by capillary attraction,
Just as the oil is drawn up in a
lamp wick, that the plant uses.
Any more than this amount of
water is harmful, therefore the ir-
rigator should seek in the early sea-
son TO so iIrigate his land that il
will be moistened as deeply as pos
sible, in order to form reservoir of
moisture beneath the surface for
the use of plants during the grow
ing season. The soil on the Twir
Falls tract is exceedingly retentive
of moisture, and when once satu-
rated to great depth will not need
excessive irrigation, as the roots
penetrating downwards will meet
the ascending water and a satisfac,
tory growth will ensue. Of course
conditions vary with the charactei
of the soil and it's depth, conse
quently each irrigator should study
his soil and meet these condition:
in an intelligent manner. Dee
rooted crops should receive a 1onge
irrigation at one time than shallow
rooted crops, and should therefor
not be irrigated so often after tn
ground is once saturated. Dee
roofing crops such as alfalfa
clover, corn, ETC., should be plant
ed on deep soil, while potatoes
hay, oats, vegetables and mos
of the grasses will do on shallow
ground In irrigating grains, afte
the soil is once saturated, waite
should be applied literally whe
the stalks are beginning to shoe
and when the bloom is on. If thi
rule is followed no irrigation wi
be necessary on grain after the mil
stage. With regard to potatoes an
most vegetables, water should M
be applied until absolutely nece'
sary, and when irrigation is begu
the ground should be kept moi
until the plants approach maturit.
This is especially true with regai
to potatoes. In the case of cor
if the ground has been irrigatc
before planting, it should not
irrigated again until absolutely ne