Mountain Home maverick. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1906-1911, 1908-03-19
Best Method Of Irrigdling.

cation at the farmers institute at
Aberdeen was probably the most
helpful of the series, inasmuch as
it dealt with the fundamental prin-
cipals of irrigation. Irrigation, he
said, meant the supplying of water
in the right amount at the right
time. Water is the one element
necessary to plant life which is
under the control of man, and the
good lrrigator can control plant
growth with as much certainty, al
most, as he can the shape of his
understand something of plant
growth can never become good ir-
rigator. Water must be applied in
scientific and rational manner,
because it is the lever which con-
trolls production. Moisture, air,
heat and plant food are the elements
which control plant growth. Water
is the vehicle which carries food to
the plant. Descending into the soil
it dissolvcs the ch nical food elc-
ments, and rising ~ capillary at
traction, carries lat food to the
plants. Bear ~ mind that it is
not the water going into the soil,
but that CONT up which feeds
the plant.
Plants should grow continuously
from the time 'A seeds sprouts un-
til they mature. If they are sup
piled with moisture in the right
quantity and in the right way, they
will do so. If the soil is saturated
with water to such an extent as to
expell the air, tho growth of the
plant is checked. This is one rea-
son why irrigation by the coruga-
ton method, or in small trenches,
is preferable to flooding. Bear in
mind never to keep the soil saturat-
ed. Water in the soil forms in
thin layers around the soil parti-
Giles. If these PARTICLES are cubes,
with inch surfaces, there would be
a film of water on all sides of the
cubes. If this cube we're pulverized
or changed to a powder there would
BIZ as many films as there are soil
particles. Therefore a fine soil will
hold more moisture than a coarse
soil, because there are more inter
stices to be filled. The presence Of
moisture in these interstices anc
the balance air about the ideal pro
portion.
Thus good cultivation, in havins
the soil we'll pulverized, is an ait
to good irrigation.
The roots of plants are alway
larger than its top. That is, thu
roots extend further into tn
ground than, its top does above it
The roots may run along near thu
surface or maybe made to pcne
trate deep into the soil. If the sol
is kept wet when the plants begin
to grow, their roots will kcc
near the surface. But if moistur
is withheld, the plants will hun
for it the same as an animal, an
send their roots deep after it. Tn
deeper the roots go the larger tn
feeding ground of the plant and tn
thrift1er will be.
Thus, by the application {
water, the irrigator may benefi
or injure the plant growth.
plant with roots near the surfac
will require frequent irrigation
One deep rooted requires much les
water Thus by starting right tn
irrigator may either make or say
himself work.
AS between corrugation {
flooding methods he preferred tt
former for two reasons: a bette
and quicker distribution of watel
and less liability in checking plar
growth. In the corrugation or fui
row method, burrows three or fot
inches deep, and two feet apar
should be made in the field in
mediately after planting, before tt
seeds sprout. These burrows rea'
lily conduct the water, carving
across a field in much less tin
than when flooding is resorted t
and distribute the water more eveI
Iy. The rise of an inch or tv
in a few square rods of ground
scarcely noticeable. Yet waite
cannot be forced upon such grour
without irnpounding it by dan
and making the low places too W
while the high ones are gettii
moisture enough to make the plan
grow. Where furrow four inch
deep is made through such his
PLACES the water flows without 1
corruption, and soaks in abo