Mountain Home maverick. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1906-1911, 1906-07-05
CULTIVATE MORE.
USE LESS WATER
Twin Falls Expert fluCi-
dates the Why's and
WharefWes of
This Theory.

Tn the growing of cultivated
crops in irrigated sections cultiva-
ton is of more importance than ir-
rigation,'' said Superintendent Nc
Pherson. con the Twin Falls
tract, where weeds have not as yet
gained foothold, the farmers are
apt to neglect the cultivation so
necessary for good results. Weeds
are really blessing in disguise, as
the ground must be cultivated to
kill them and the crops benefit by
the cultivation Where there are
no weeds to remind the farmer of
his duty he is liable to neglect this
important work. Irrigation and Gull
tivation should always be considered
together, but cultivation is the more
important of the two during the
growing season. Cultivation slim
uletes the growth Of the crop, rem
dcrs less irrigation necessary and
should be practiced zea1ously
throughout the entire growing sea-
son. Cultivation destroys the weeds,
conservcs the moisture and aids
growth admitting air and sunshine
to the soil. Where excessive irriga-
ton is practiced in place of cu1tiva-
ton for the purpose of forcing
growth, the opposite results to those
sought are usually obtained. The
ground is packed tight, filled with
water, or else becomes baked and
hard and in either case the air and
sunlight, SO necessary for plant
growth, are excluded.
1T has been demonstrated that
an amount of water equal to sheet
one inch thick will evaporate from
field within "a hours after an ir-
riagtion in warm weather. If irri-
cation is followed by cultivation as
soon as the ground can be worked,
the capillary or upward movement
of the water will be broken, for the
reason that the loose, pulverized
surface soil acts as a sort of mulch
or shade and prevents needless
evaporation. The capillary water
will continue to rise just the same
as it is required by the plants, but
it will not come to the surface
where the sun will reach and evap-
crate it. Excessive irrigation tends
to reduce the temperature of the
soil, retarding plant growth, while
the mulch formed by cultivation
tends to raise the temperature Of
the soil and force growth. Irriga
tion is the lever which control:
plant growth to a large extent, ye
it is only a means to an end, anc
as long as the soil has sufficien
moisture to supply all the needs o
the plant, the application of add
tional moisture is only detrimcnt
Cultivation is beneficial at any ant
all times.
''How about the grain crop
which are not cultivated during tn
growing season %
Grain stalks and blades act as
sort of mulch, shading the groun
from the rays of the sun and pre-
venting evaporation to large ex
tent. The larger portion of tn
capillary moisture is held by tn
grain stalks during the heat of tn
day end IS reabsorbed by the war;
earth at night, in a large measur
taking the place of cultivation
Thus the high temperature of til
soil is maintained. Excessive irr
cation is equally as detrimental
grain as it is to cultivated crops, {
it lowers the temperature of tt
soil and closes the pores, thu
shutting out the air. There are tw
periods in the growth of grain
when irrigation is very benefici
First when the stalks are jointir
and shooting up rapidly, when the
consume a great deal of moistur
again when milk is forming in Il
kernels. A liberal amount of moi
ture should be applied at these per
DDS. No water should be apple
after the grain is in the milk.
Twin Falls News.