Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1907-12-20

N' A@tflNi ~ tIt ram btlL Htdff
Of the phenomenal crops Of the irri-
CATION farmer and pronounces the
stories fakes Of the rankest kind Oc-
casionally he gets an opportunity 10
actually behold some Of the wonderful
returns Of the irrigation farmer and
then be Is filed with wonder and IN
stinetiyely asks. WHY"
The difference 10 results between
irrigated farms and the rain belt farms
u susceptible Of rational explanation.
Il Is not the result Of either accident
or miracle
Soil sunshine and water are the
three elements most essential 10 plant
growth. The different results in diff
ferent localities depends upon the quail
ity quantity and proportions Of these
three elements. and their intelligent
handling by the farmer.
Soil supplies the necessary chemical
elements for plant life. sunshine sup
plies the mysterious power by which
these elements are brought in place in
the plant and water Is the vehicle which
dissolves the chemicals and conveys
them 20 the organs Of the plant The
irrigation farmer. by controlling his
water supply Is master of the three
elements under consideration He can
control them to as certain results as
can the master Of factory or a ma
chine shopmau his materials into
finished product Ia other words the
irrigation farmer is a manufacturer of
farm products
Ia the rain belt every rain which fails
dlss,lves and carries away with its ex.
cess run-oH water the chemical ee-
ments ia the soil so necessary to plant
hfe. This process has been carried on
during the untold centuries and will
continue 80 long as the rain falls in
excess of the ability of the surface to
absorb it. In desert country no such
teaching Of the soil can take place.
The soil of the desert retains all Of its
original chemical clements necessary
20 plant life They have neither been
washed away nor been used up hy use
less vegetation. This fact readily ac-
counts for the difference in the strength
of soils in irrigation and rain belt
farms Another condition which fire.
qaeutly Injuries the crop of the rain
belt farmer and which the irrigation
farmer does not have to meet is the
damage 20 a growing crop from a hard
rain coming just at the time the plant
ia ln the critical stage of blossom so as
20 wash OIL The pollen and blast the seed
pods o. certain extent
The very conditions which are nee /.
essary to bring rain 20 the rain belt
farmer Of necessity shuts Oft his sun
shine. In Idaho the number Of SUI y
shiny days during the growing season
s perhaps greater than in any other
arming community on earth It's high
attitude brings some sixteen hours of
unshine each day during che height of
he growing season and a cloudy day i
s. "a rare occurrence az that time of y
car The peculiar location of southern
IDAHO in rotation to the mountains and "
he warm currents of the Pacific give "
en- am added advantage ina the matter =
warm atmosphere to her long DAYS ~
sunshine. W,
The key 20 the great advantage of 49,
rigation farming over rain belt farm
x lies IN the power to regulate the ~,
lautity Of water applied and the APP
catlon Of it 20 a growing crop ut the
ght time. The rain belt farmer is at s
e mercy Of the chance rain for the ~
'phcatiou Of water to his crops. He
often led TO wonder why he some.
mes raises bumper crop and at
hers makes nearly failure when
e conditions seemed so nearly alike ~
Az plants are greedy feeders Give m
crop of oats all the water il viii use ."
Us early stages of growth and il -,
iris runs riot in lis wealth Of straw.
grows entirely unmindful Of It's duty 80
It's kind in the matter of self per. ''''
.uatiou by raising a sesd head Give w."
an The SOIL sunshine and water Il nv
. use ard IL wiu produce little but -
ass The irrigation farmer permits
cat crop % eNpeHd it's energies IN
dueing straw 20 certain point.
then shuts oH the supply of water ''''
the plant Instinct warns &c 90
n e. thmw out seed head When p
bead Is fairly started the irrigation sts,
nef tnen feeds the plant again and c,,n
lulates The energies of the plan, IN ,o,y
direction % its utmost capacity. 49,.
pose that just at the critical period .o,,
he life of the crop when the irriga- ~
farmer shuts OIL the water supply hoo,
rrce the seed 70 form, the rain belt ia.
ser gets an old fashioned gully ~, 4,
l'ik ram ne reaps a heavy crop by Ia
raw but light crop Of grain. and Asse,
iers why cou