The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1909-01-09
NELSON'S ADDRESS tn
THE HORTICULTURISTS
Continued from Horticulturist-a on mace one

Professor Nelson was assigned the
topic of Drainage of Alkali Lands"
The following is his address, which
was listened to with more than usual
interest as the drainage of lands will
be a matter of considerable interest
in the near future in the Payette and
Boise valleys.
1t might appear, that the subject of
drainage is not a pertinent one to
discuss in a meeting of fruit growers.
l, however. consider that it is anil
need only cih two facts which when
brought together and their bearing
appreciated will justify this discus
sion. The first is this: We have
large area or orchard land, some in
bearing and some planted in recent
years and thousands of acres will be
planted this Coming year. The other
fact is that waterlogging of land has
appeared here and there at least in
southwestern Idaho. l do not expect
that a large percentage of our lands
will be subject to ruin by excess
ground water and alkali, yet orchard
lists will come in for a share of con-
Germ, so if | mistake not fruit grow
ers, as well as growers of other crops,
will be interested in this subject.
am before you to open the discussion
of drainage.
Here in southern Idaho we have
for years been concerned in provid-
ing water for irrigation and extend
ing the area of irrigated land Now,
in some districts it is matter of deep
concern to get rid of the water which
has accumulated in such quantities as
to ruin our land. 1t was expensive
to get it in the first place. 1t is ex-
pensive to maintain the canals and
bitches and it is going to be expen-
sive as we'll to get rid of the super
fluffy. Some have been trying to see
how much water they possibly could
put on a given area of land instead
of ascertaining what amount would
give the best results. AS a conse-
quence certain lands must either be
abandoned of expensive artificial
drainage systems installed AS water
is becoming more and more scarce
and the dangers of overirrigation bet
ter appreciated, there will be less ex-
cessive use of water in the future
than in the past. No amount of econ
omy will now in the majority of cases
avert the necessity of artificial drain
age where the lands have become
saturated.
We can realize the extent of water
logging when it is known that 10 per
cent of irrigated lands in the United
States has been ruined by excess wa
ter and alkali. A great deal of this
injury might have been avoided had
due economy been exercised in the
use of water in earlier days. Further
ruin can yet be averted if water be
used economically and attention given
to the interception of seepage from
canals and irrigated lands on higher
levels, and the small areas already
injured we believe can be successful
ly reclaimd.
Overirrigation during a long period
OF years is either entirely responsible
for ruined lands or has aggravated
that condition. Seepage from higher
lands and lack of adequate natural
drainage are other causes.
The character of the subsoil and
underlying strata, the slope of the
land and the presence or absence Of
natural surface drainage ways are
conditions that determine the ade-
quacy or inadequacy of the drainage
as we find 1t. Low-lying lands above
which are situated higher irrigated
lands are the ones more commonly
affected. The seepage following along
certain strata may emerge further
down. II the subsoll and formations
underneath are such as not to be able
to pass on or carry of this seepage
then the land becomes waterlogged,
often there Is pressure which tends
to force the water 10 the surface,
Cases are known where n has risen
from depth of 10 feet
Preventative Measures.
Since there is much land which has
been under irrigation but n few years
It Is pertinent to ask how may injury
be averted and what preventative
measures are there that may be APP
piled. There are no other than eco
nomloal use of water and intercept
ton of any seepage from higher lands
whenever such appears. When more
water Is applied than the crops need
the evaporation and under drainage
II such there be. can dispose Of ther
saturatlon must necessarily follow
H..