The Ordway new era., 1910-10-14
TO IRRIGATE SPUDS
Excellent Method Of Irrigation
for Farmer to Follow.
Practical Plan as It 10 Successfully
Used by Best Potato Growers Of
West-Experienee Is Nee
essary for Success.

The following description In United
States Farmers Bulletin 1885, by E.
II. Grubb Of Carbondale, is believed
to be practical method Of irrigation
to follow. and is successfully used by
the best potato growers of the west.
When the time for irrigation ar.
rives V-shaped trench half way be-
tween the rows should be opened in
alternate middles with an eight or ten
inch lister plow. This is a narrow
plow with double moldboard which
throws dirt each way. In these fur
rows, the irrigation water Is run SO
that the soil will not become solidi-
fed by flooding. the roots may be
thoroughly moistened, yet the tuber
bed Is kept dry. Experience Is neces.
sary to show what amount of water is
required. Do not irrigate both sides
Of the same row at the same time.
For the second irrigation burrows are
opened in the middles that were not
opened at the first irrigation.
The details Of irrigation depend
upon the size, slope and contour of
the field to be irrigated.
II the land slopes sufficiently and
continuously across the field from the
supply ditch. the problem is simple. At
the head Of the field is feeder ditch
from which the water Is admitted to
the burrows between the rows. A can
vas dam is placed in the lateral SO as
to hold the water back and raise It to
the proper height in the row. After
the water has run in the row a sufii-
cient length Of time to thoroughly
wet the soil, place at a proper dis
tance farther down the row another
canvas dam for q check and remove
the first one. The head OF water in
the feeder ditch will determine the
number OF rows which can be irri-
gated at the same time. ridges occur
in the field, transverse bitches are
run along at their top and irrigating
done both ways from It. When one
follows the general rule Of getting wa
ter on the higher surface first he can
then bring water to the lower levels
easily. 1t is essential in potato cul.
ture that the right quantity Of water
be used and that 1t be uniformly dis
tributed. Do not irrigate too soon.
Water should not be applied until. by
the darkening Of the foliage, the
plants show need OF water, and, in
this manner. call for 1t. 1t were bet
ter that the tubers set. or the plants
be in blossom, before the first irriga.
tion is given. Yet II one digs down
into the hill and nnds the soil so dry
that, when pressed, 1t falls to- retain
Its form. there Is not sufficient moist
ure for sturdy growth and 1t Is best
to turn In the irrigation water. As
soon MS possible cultivate after the
first, irrigation: this lessons evapora.
ton and insures vigorous uniform
growth without a serious check Fol-
low irrigation in alternate rows not
irrigated the first time. as plant
growth seems to require It. In
this second irrigation. when the water
seeps through to the non-irrigated
row. 1t indicates the soil is sufficient
ly wet
As the vines grow, successive irri-
cation becomes more difficult, since
the vines lodge in the bitches. imped-
Ing the water on its way through.
Give plants sufficient water to keep
up vigorous growth. but be careful not
to overirrigate. Give SO to 60 days
for ripening OF the tubers in dry
earth. Clean potatoes taken from dry
tuber beds look well. sell we'll. and
are usually freer from disease germs
than potatoes taken from a moist seed
bed.
The amount of water applied must
necessarily vary with the kind Of
soil and the character of the season.
When once begun. irrigation should
follow irrigation at intervals of eight
to ten days until crop is fully matured.
In general. too much rather than too
little water Is used with potatoes.
rendering the matured tuber. when
cooked. "soggy" and unpalatable.