The Alamogordo news. (Alamogordo, N.M.) 1899-1912, 1908-09-05

clUlVaJlOn. w 0aG uOes CulOlNd-
tion do? 1t aerates the soil, a
condition as necessary as moist
ure. 1t disarranges and breaks
up the tubes and when the
moisture comes up through these
tubes from the soil below, it
strikes this disarrangement
above and is stopped there until
it work out new route to the
surface. The time required for
new tubes to form depends upon
natural conditions, of the soil,
and the thoroughness previous
of the cultivation.
Through the experience OF the
writer in the distribution of wa
ter under large irrigation sys-
TENS, he has heard many COM
plants by the water user, that
his crop was dying for the want
of water and water only, and
the complaints were made in all
sincerity of heart. The writer
is therefore justified in saying
that more crop failures have
been through the lack of knowl-
edge of how to care for the crop
than because of a lack of water.
Too much water is as detri-
mental as an insufficient amount
and air is as necessary to the
growth of plants as is moisture.
We must not be too hasty in
presuming that our crops are
suffering from lack of water
when it may be for the lack of
cultivation, or the need of air
nitrogen or humus.
In order to reach ideal irriga-
tion, only enough water should
be applied to the soil as is re-
quired for the growth Of the
crops, which, experience has
shown, is a very small amount.
Some of our writer's have sug-
gested different methods of the
accomplishment of the above
results, all of which are good.
One writer calls attention to
alignment, grade, and condition
of bitches, and points out the
loss of water before it reaches
the land to be irrigated; an
other suggests irrigation under
ground by means of tile con-
duits, most ideal way; while
another gives experience in ir-
rigating through burrows slowly
"a method anyone can apply
and by so doing gets the moist
. ure down deep in the soil and
Immediately stops the moisture
from escaping back into the ali
, through capillary tubes, by
maans of this thorough cultiya-
? tion.
i, In my report to the governor
a year ago, l copied some expert
| ments made by the U. S. Agri-
cultural department on evapora'
tion from soils in which the tests
e showed an evaporation in Il
1 days of % per cent (of water
y applied on bare soil; 6.6 per cent
where covered with inches Of
mulch; 3 per cent where cult.
g walton or soil mulch was 8 inches
i deep, and only,1 per cent where
e the soil mulch was 10 inches
4 deep. 1t is, therefore, not
: theory, but a demonstrated fac
= that by proper care, moisture
L can be conserved in the soil.
n Again. Over irrigation de
# stroys the farmers own land ant
4 also eventually his neighbor'
: land below, resulting in th'
. raising of the water table to tht
o surface of the soil, and on th'
e lower land above the, surface
J. thus allowing the sun to evapor
q ate the pure water; leaving tn
g impurities, or alkali, and eve1
. when once drained out, yo,
N either have alkalied land or tn
!. over irrigation has puddled you
d soil so that it is not subject t
10 irrigation, cultivation and growt
: of crops. Then remedies hav
;" to be resorted to in order t
loosen up the soil and supply
III with humus and nitrogen. w