East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1908-10-03

ltlutN III NllS way utlllS uSeu " NoH-
{ tinue the work of reclamation. III
5 general the structures and irrigation
= system under these projects are OF a
permanent characte, and the cost OF
, n,- -'-;enance should in general be low.
In selecting a farm special care
ould be used in determining the
quality Of the soil and the probability
OF deterioration through seepage from
i,lig3ted lands above. \ mistake that
has been made by many settlers Is in
choosing the low bottom lands in
preference to the higher bench lands,
the bottom lands being the first to
feel the effects OF seepage and con-
centration of alkali If such exist. A
very important point in determining
what area the farmer will take up is,
How much can he properly take
care OF" Fully rs per cent of set
tiers on irrigated lands take up more
lana tan they can properly care for
under the most profitable system of
farming. their capital being usually
somewhat limited.
Having secured the farm, ii has
been found an excellent plan to have
some sort Of map made, even though
II be only rough boundary map.
Then plan the location of your build
ings, the several fields of the farm
corrals, pactures. well and farm lat
erals for irrigation.
Usually on raw land, the first
problem is clearing the sagebrush. If
there is only a light growth on the
land. il can be removed sometimes
simply by plowing. A heavier growth
may be removed by one OF the patent
sdgebrush grubbers on the market or
10y railroad rail bent to an angle in !
the center and hauled flat side down
by teams hitched 10 each end of the /
rail. Then having made your survey
Of irrigation bitches and laterals pro- /.
ceed 70 plow them in or construct
tnem by means OF the Fresno or 9TH .
er scraper or some other ditching m I
plemeut. Much will depend upon the .
kinds of crops TO be raised and the /
character Of the land to be irrigated /
as to what method Of irrigation will
te most suitable In general, though,
tor the more valuable crops, the plan
Of furrow irrigation is found most
successful. The method of flooding
has been most widely used in the
past. Although shallow plowing is
widely practiced. especially with sod
ground. the weight Of opinion is much
in favor Of as deep plowing as may be
practical. On sod ground especially,
the mouldboard plow is much TO be
preferred to the disk The sod should
all be turned under so as TO decay and
supply humus to the soil.
The matter of seeds and seeding is
probably the most important consid-
Grafton Of all for the farmer. He
should make up his mind that his
crop win have o direct relation to the
quality OF the seed he uses, and it Is
false economy 10 get any but the very
best seed that can be obtained. This
can best be done By trading with a
reliable company testing the germi-
nation Of the sample before buying.
and examine the seed In sample for .
impurities. The time Of seeding .
amount and depth are important /
questions for the farmer to solve. The !
gr-. rtagc Of termination ssould be /
taken into account in determining the !
amount Of seed per acre. as seed with 4
100 per cent termination will produce !
double the amount Of plants that seed /
with 30 per cent terminating power
win give for the same number OF
hounds per acre The farmer should J
determine to some extent I'm advance :
whether he will follow the intensive [
or extensive methods Of farming. He
should formulate some plan Tor rota-
ton Of crops TO get the maximum !
profit from his land and yet not i'm
p,rverish his soil Where there Is n !
chance Of failure Of some Of the crops !
that are to be raised, diversiflcation
should be practiced, so as not TO put
all the eggs in one basket.
For the best results with any kind
Of farming. almost. thorough cultlva-
tion should be made one Of the hrst
requisites The plow, the cross drlii
and the harrow are the most impor-
tant implements for the farm. Dir
ferent soils must. Of course. be treat
ed differently, and heavy soil that
bakes. after having water applied, In
to q hard crust on the surface, should
be brought into a state Of tilth as
quickly as possible by planting some
quick growing leguminous plant, such
az white sweet clover. which, when
cut and plowed under. will Introduce
large amount Of humus into the
soil.
The progressive farmer cav usually
be told by the kind Of implements
ne keeps and the care he takes of
them. The farmer who let's his I'M
plements stand out in all weathers
loses far more money, In replacing
them after few years use than 1t
would have cost to put up sheds for
their protection.
The question Of irrigation Is one
that each farmer must Iargey settle
for himself. When to irrigate, how to
Irrigate, and how much water to APP