Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1909-01-29


, las rule. one irrigation is SUI
ficient for grain. one for potatoe
and one for each crop of alfalfa
Too much land is drowned out;
know OF 10000 fertile acres il
southern Idaho, that now produce
G only salt grass and vegetation Of
. little value ruined by over watering
i But for all this, the first crop Of
grass can hardly be over watered.
/ Don Try to do more than you can
! do well Don't take of more sage
brush this year. or next year, than
you can actually cultivate and put
into frst-ciass condition.
ITO know when 10 irrigate, dig
down into the soil. three or four in
} ches. II the soil there is moist en-
ough to spUeeze together into a
ball. it needs no more water. Crops
of no kind want to be soaked and
left in standing water. If the soil
is moist, that is ali that is wanted
drowning is certain if you put on too
much.
There are three methods of irri-
cation, but of these the corrugation
method is probably the best. You
can make your own corrugator,
sled-like arrangement with runners
about two feet apart, to make the
corrugations for the water to run /
through. These should mark the /
land three to four inches deep.
The Importance of a correct use
of water may be shown by the fact
that on the Twin Falls experiment
al station, we lost hut Z per cent of
the water allotted to us; while some
othrs have actually wasted as much
as II per cent and damaged them
selves and their neighbors too. To
increase so largely the states pro- ,
ductive possibilities, by correct use
of the water, is vitality important.
To put this whole lecture in a
few words, it would be: Grade
your land properly before you try to
farm. Plant clover and alfalfa, and
more clover and alfalfa, with every
crop. When spring comes, put in
your crops as arly 9s possible.
Mr.. Mcpherson paid very high
tribute to the Idaho Irrigation COM
)any, which was making such siren
nous efforts to not only get the =
ands ready for cultivation. but to L
get the settlers started right The
work was being well J
lone, the company was doing every Q
hing possible to encourage the peo-
lie to make their homes, and he
onsidered it privilege to be able
o appear before the settlers and help
hem start on the road to prosperity.
Tree and Fruit Culture.
Prof Shinn, in charge of the 4
department of the :
ate experimental station at Mos "
w. was the second speaker. Tree IN
lanting" was his subject He said co
mart:
"One of the first and most import
ut things in establishing new
'me in a prairie country is the plant
g of trees. Trees are needed as
md breaks to protect the crops, as Is
rests to supply posts and timber, II
shade to make life more enjoy IL
lie. and as orchards to produce q
Iits for food n
Wind breaks have the first eco Y
mic value. These may be of two
or permanent. F.,
e temporary wind breaks are of
e quick growing trees like the
plars; but the permanent ones are WI
ter than the first. even though of
little slower growth. There is moth
; better than the black locust. --
ich grows rapidly and makes ex- =.
lent posts and poles. II grows on s
Twin Falls Tract, almost an inch ~
-ear The south and west winds lssI'
the ones most to be protected X
linst. and the trees should be
nted in the belt system on these
sides of the place. They can :,
in rows feet apart. and 5 feet y
he row, making 5000 trees to the u'y
?. Any number of rows can be
nted, from TO 10 After the
s reach a merchantable size for -
,eposts and other such uses, the
s can be cut as desired. Some IN
in by cutting one or two rows ~
ear from the inside of the field. Mas
locusts may freeze back little each
first winter, but that will do iron
e damage. as the trees will to a
lch out better. The trees should L. J
cultivated the first year or two
tart a good growth.
For shade trees, the Caroline w
ar is rapid grower, and well w
tied to the country. II is. how