Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1909-06-18

crop can, by this artificial means, be
advanced or retarded and can con-
seQuently be arranged In such way
as to meet the most favorable mar
ket conditions. Even lands where
irrigation Is not absolutely necess-
airy are greatly benefited by irriga-
tion because 1t is always within the
power of the irrigator to withhold
moisture where 1t is not needed on
the ground.
The average cost of irrlgatlng per
acre OF land is in the neighborhood
of $3.50 for the first cost of con-
struction and an average annual cost
of 3Sc. Where the land Is used for
special purposes and particular high
grade crops, this cost may be greater
but the benefits derived will be
found to be in proportion greater
also. In the United States the ex-
penditure of $3.50 per acre for ir-
rigation has added s26 per acre in
value to every acre of ground. And
the average value Of an irrigated
acre Of land In the United States Is
far greater than the average value
per acre Of land that does not need
or does not have irrigation. The diff
ference In the value OF irrigated and
non-irrigated land more than three
times offsets the cost of irrigation.
People In this country seem to be
inclined to believe that irrigation Is
a new thing In farming. II is a fact
that irrigation works were construct
ed way back In the dim ages, way
back In times the history of which
Is closed book for mankind today.
1t Is also generally believed that
modern irrigation is more advanced
and covers greater area In the
United States, particularly In the
West, than elsewhere in the world
This is not so, The total area ir-
rigated In India, exceeds thirty
three million acres In Egypt, six
million of acres. While tho total
acreage of the'United States under
irrigation is less than eight millions
OF acres. and this In spite OF the
fact that the acreage has Increased
more than 100 per cen. In the last
ten years. The total cost of the con-
structing Of irrigation works In
operation Is about seventy million
dollars and the annual value Of the
crops harvested from the irrigated
area Is nearly ninety million dollars,
and this represents annual interest
earned on the capital outlay Of 1873
per cent per year, exclusive of work
and expenses of cost of cultivation,
interest on farms, etc.
The United States government, be-
sides investing large amounts Of
money In irrigation works, also em-
ploys large force OF competent en-
gineers and experts who study lrriga-
tion problems and gather data and
statistics OF value to the general pub
lie. This results in the printing and
publishing OF great number OF re-
ports full OF most valuable informa-
tion information needed both by the
engineers and experts and by users
OF water from the irrigation dltches.
Most OF these papers are published
by the Department OF Agriculture
and at this point let me call the at
tention OF the readers TO the report
entitled Irrigation In Oregon" Is
sued by the United States Depart
ment OF Agriculture, Washington, ID.
G. This report can be had on ap-
plicatlon. | would also call attention
, to the list OF publications OF the De-
= partment OF Agriculture bureau OF
. experiment stations on irrigation
> from which ] take the following:
D Bulletin No. SO, "The Use OF Water
a In Irrigating;" bulletin No. 1906, "Ir-
A rigation In the United States" bull
3 letin No. lO9, Irrigation Progress
8 Amongst Fruit Growers OF the Paci-
= fic Coast" bulletin No. li5, Pre-
j. pairing Land for Irrigation and Me-
n thods OF Applying Water" bulletin
e No, 203. distribution Of Water In
d Soil Furrow Irrigation" OF farm
y ers' bulletins I would call attention
y to bulletin No. 116. Irrigation OF
: Fruit Growing" No. 1873. Irrigation
n OF Field and Garden" bulletin No.
u 1863, How 20 Build Small Irrigation
Dltches," and bulletin No. 263,
D. Practical Information TO Beginners
n in Irrigation" Besides government
d publications on irrigation, hydraull,
h engineers have already produced 3
II great deal OF literature on the IT.
n rigatlon system. and plant experts
In have added valuable information q
10 the question OF successful farminl
O. by artificial application OF watei
or from irrlgating systems.