Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1908-07-22
Upon This Depends
Success of lrriga-
ton Farmer
QUESTION A COMPLEX ONE
Judicious Application Of
Moisture to Growing Crops
is Essential.

F. A. Haimbaugh, a we'll known ir'
rigation farmer of Springer, Colfax
county, has submitted an article on
the subject of irrigation in New Mex
leo, in competition for the trophy OF.
fered by Territorial Engineer Vernon
l.. Sullivan for the best treatise on
this all important subject. Mr.. Hahn.
baugh's arguments are founded more
on experience than on theory and are
interesting, especially to the irriga
tion farmer. Under the heading, "The
Duty of Water" he says:
"The wonderful advancement that
has been made during the last quarter
of century in the regulation and dis
tribution of water for irrigation pur-
poses throughout the arid and semi,
arid sections of the west, is matter
of the greatest Importance in the de.
velopment of these regions. Great as
has been this advancement and wond.
erful as is its influence upon the ma.
terial resources the lack of proper
knowledge as to the duty of water has
retarded, and will continue to retard
the irrigation farmer, until he has full
access and avails himself of the best
information on the subject.
"The fundamental necessity of the
irrigation farmer today is the conser
vation of moisture, whether supplied
by rainfall or by artificial methods. Az
the water rights in our streams are
taken, as our population increases and
civilization advances, a more exten-
sive as we'll as more intensive use
of the available supply of water is in.
evitable. There are but few streams
in the irrigation west today in which
the available supply for direct irriga-
tion has not been fully taken. The de-
mand for water has continued to in
crease. To meet this constantly grow.
ing demand the national government
has inaugurated an irrigation scheme
unparalleled in the worlds history,
and great corporations are organized
for acquiring water rights, construct
ing dams. building reservoirs and dis.
tributing canals for the reclamation of
land, rich in the elements of plant
life.
The Secret of Success.
"Vast as are the irrigation enter.
prises under construction, stupendous
as are the sums being expended, won.
derful as are the engineering features
of their devising, yet they are but ele-
mental in their character as compared
with the real work of the judicious ap-
plication of water to the growing
crops. The judicious application of wa
ter pre-supposes that the irrigationist
has definite information on climatic
conditions, character of the soil, pre-
paration of the soil nature of the crop
and local conditions.
What is the duty of water ?That Is
the supreme question of the irrigation
farmer. Upon the correct answer to
this question depends the financial
success of every irrigation enterprise
Not only must we know this in order
to estimate the cost Of projecting
works and ascertaining the dimensions
of reservoirs and canals, but we must
know it in order that the best results
may be obtained from growing crops
The experiments that have been con
Quoted both by the National Govern
ment and by individuals have not az
yet afforded reliable data on the sub
ject. These experiments, however
have fully demonstrated that toe
much moisture is just as injurious tt
the growth of plant life as too little
With uniform climatic conditions, soil
preparation and local conditions, the
duty of water varies primarily witt
the crop. Again it varies with the
character of the soil, sandy soil requir
ing more water than clayey soil; /
varies with the amount of precipita
ton and evaporation; it varies will
the condition of the bitches, and abovt
all with the skill and Judgment OF th'
irrigator
Results Of Experiments.
"From experiments conducted b.
Professor Samuel Fortier in Wyoming
1t was found that good results wer'
obtained by the application Of 1.O2 acr'
feet in two irrigations on clover; Ill
in two irrigations on peas; 9S in ON
irrigation on barley; 1874 in two irriga
tions on oats, and, that the averag
OF all the experiments showed IL acr
feet used upon each acre. In southern
California, which is extremely arid
and where the water, being valuable
Is handled with great care, by the us
Of sub-irrigation, the duty has in som
classes reached as high as one thou
sand acres Der second foot. This full