Lewiston evening teller. [volume] (Lewiston, Idaho) 1903-1911, 1907-08-02
EXPERIMENTS
WITH IRRIGATION
Scientific Farmer In Twin
Falls Country Tells Of
His Work

BOISE Aug. 2.-Alex Mcpherson.
who has charge of the experiment farm
on the Twin Falls tract, is in the city,
says the Statesman, having arrived
yesterday morning to attend meetings
OF the state dairy and pure food board
and the state horticultural board.
THE crops on the Twin Falls tract
are looking very fine and the hay crop
is very heavy" Mr.. Mcpherson said
yesterday. Huge haystacks are now
dotting the tract like wheat shocks in
the fields of the East. The crops on the
experimental farm, all things being
considered, are exceptionally fine.
"The experiment farm at Twin Falls.
which is now being conducted under
the direction of the Twin Falls North
Side Land and Water company. is
showing up better than ever. The
principal object of maintaining this
farm was for the purpose of demon
strating the actual amount of water
required to produce maximum crops.
"All water coming onto the farm is
accurately measured, likewise all that
may escape as waste water, In addi-
tion we have an evaporating tank, and
ram gauge. to determine the actual
amount Of evaporation, as well az nre-
cipitation. Instead of conducting small
piats in an experimental way, no plat
contains less than an acre. Then nv
examining the soil and determining the
SOIL moisture we can always tell lust
now much moisture is in the soil at
any given time. how much has been
applied either by irrigation or rainfall.
also how much has evaporated or how
much had run off as waste. Thus bv
check plats of the same kind of crops.
we are enabled to approximately de-
termine the amount of moisture neces-
Sary and consequently how much to
apply.
Under the contract with the COM
oany the settlers are allowed one
'ightieth of cubic foot per second
Der acre continuous flow during the
eason. Last year we only used three 1
ourths Of the amount allowed, and ,
N many crops this is definitely shown {
Q be too much. This year we believe 1
he amount viii be cut down to con-
lderable less. In addition to this we 1
ave crops we give a great deal of wa 4
en- such IS has been common prac-
ice. These crops show conclusiyelv
nat they have been given too much.
ne crops of beans and grains viii :
My receive one irrigation during the :
eason.
IT has always been maintained that :
ne Twin Falls soil was very rich and !
etentive of moisture This was amn,v
demonstrated on the experiment farm
Miner which was in sage brush the .
rst or April. This farm was grubbed :,
nd put in crop, and was irrigated for :
'e nrst time within the last 10 DAYS. q
ONE or the crops, such as Canada
eiu peas and one or two varieties OF
aus are now ripe and ready for har- =
est' producing good crop without ir- ="
gtion. Other crops of grain. reou,r-
g slightly longer growing season v
40 10 be irrigated at least once in -
DER to get a maximum yield. One y
the best crops. and making the f1n- y
u growth on both farms, is sugar :.
'ets, and if the present condition of "
hngs Is an indication of what the SUI "
IT beet will be at maturity, we will Vi
I'VE record breaking crop, beating
e crop OF 1906, when the average r
oduction was 21h tons per acre
owing 1870 per cent sugar and u
45-10O per cent purity.
Settlers are constantly coming IN
the Twin Falls tract on the south
ie' many of them buying property
ere while others go and view the
nds to be opened on the north side
October 1. deciding to return and NJ
re their chances there. Many of the "
'angers coming in are so we'll pleas
with the tract that they are willing
buy at least a five-acre tract along
road leading to the north side
oject all seemingly to think that it
thing to be proud of to say that
~ can own some property on the On
eat Twin Falls project. WI