Mountain Home maverick. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1906-1911, 1908-03-19
AGRICULTURAL DEPARTMENT.
Items Of Interest for the Farmer and Horcuu Who Believes
In Progress and Improvement

below the water level when the
gates are closed. For instance, say
the fall is two feet to the half mile,
and you ditch is eigteen inches
deep. If gate were put in at
the lower end of the ditch 1t would
back up the water up only three
fourths of the way across the field.
Begin about two hundred yards
from the upper end of the ditch,
and put in gate that can be rsised
and lowered, but not quite so high
as the banks of the ditch. so that
water will run over the head gate
instead of the entertainments. BY
closing this gate, which will back
the water up, and leave a water
line, showing where to place the
spouts. Futher down, put in an
other gate, or as many as are re-
quried. When you want water
close the gates and raise the water
above the spouts. When through,
raise the gates, the water level
falls, adm the water passes harm
lcssly away. When bitches are con-
srtucted this way 1t is pleasure to
irrigate and requires little time.
In preparing your ground for ir-
rigation-for permanent fields do
it right. Made right once, it is
always right. If no more than ten
acres can be prepared in one year,
do it right, because it will pay in
the long run. Have your land
level. BY level is meant free from
knolls, with slope. Water can
not be made to run up hill. If the
slope is too great, run the corruga-
tions around the slope in steep
places, or parallel with the ditch as
near as may be necessary, instead
of from it.
A fall of an inch to rod makes
p good flow for corrugations. When
the land is quite level, do not flow
the water too far, but catch up in
other bitches and begin anew,
because the upper part of the field
will become too wet before the
lower part has water enough. If
the land has a good fall it will
run a quarter of q mile without
injury. If it is very level it is
advisable TO have cross, or catch
bitches every 400 or 500 feet. Tc
illustrate, suppose your land is
quite level and has a gradual fall
to the southeast, with the water
coming upon the land at the high.
est point, the northeast corner
Construct a ditch clear around the
tract, with gates so that the water
: can be flowed westward and fec
! through spouts to the northern par
of the field, the surplus water
S passing away in the ditch on tn,
e west. The surplus water on thu
e field will be caught up in cross
E and may be used to water the cen
: trail part of the field, or allowed
i to waste in the ditch on the west
n or if it is desired to water the mid
p die or lower parts of the field tn
e water can be turned down the ditto
It to the east and forced into to eithe
d cross ditch as desired, land the wat
c or confined to the land intended t
e either cross ditch as desired and tn
e water confined to the land intend
ed to bclwatered.
If If field cannot be proprely lai
it out without the services of an cr
A gineer it will be much cheaper
e get one than to try to get along i
!. slipshod manner by attempting
g drive the water where you want
,e with a shovel Irigating is cas-
,e where the bitches are properly lai
out. Where they are not, it
slavery.
Unless the soil has moisture SUI
ficient to bring grain up and kee
it thriving until it is in the milk
- stage, irrigate before planting. L
riagte again in the milky stage
and with ordinary soil this Shout
!. be sufficient TO mature the crol
= When the soil five or six inch'
below the surface will remain
a ball when squeezed in the hanc
:. il does not need water. If not,
:. is time to irrigate.
o,
a. Tn Rreak lin BTOOdy Hens