The Ordway new era., 1910-12-02
TOCONt E2VE WATER
Of Present Scant Supply Large
Amount Is Wasted.
People Wholly Inexperienced In Prop
or Methods Misuse Artificial Ar.
tIcle With Characteristic
American Extravaqance.

Water has been carried to vast
areas OF hitherto unproductive desert
lands by the expenditure of many mil
lions Of dollars by the United States
government and many millions Of dol
lars more are already planned to be
spent in claiming for the husband
man empires Of land now stunned by
man. says Orchard and Farm. With
all this work completed and planned
the deld OF endeavor In winning from
the desert has only been fairly en-
tered upon.
Every step forward is to be ap-
plauded. and while only the high
places" have been embraced in the
work Of the past and that now planned.
bona fde conservation will excel much
moro than Is contemplated.
The unfortunate fact regarding ir-
rigated lands wherever they are. is
that people wholly inexperienced In
proper methods. misuse the artificial
water supply with characteristic Amer
lean extravaganza and prodigality.
of the future
OF the present scant supply = large
percentage is absolutely wasted. inso-
far as beneftting cultivated acreage
IL concerned. because of the unscien.
tific distribution and lack Of engineer
ing direction In the preparation OF
field laterals.
Evaporation and seepage. overflows
and leakage claim moro than the cult
waited land receives. Over-irrigated
lands soon become of as little value
as those having no irrigation supply.
The very selection of crops soon show
complete ignorance Of the value OF
irrigation.
Irrigation is expensive at'the best.
and the idea that water artihcialiy
supplied to the land is mere sub
stitute for the rains that fell regular
ly, or frequently in good old days.
often referred to by "old-timers. Is
fallacy It were well to be rid Of at
once and all time.
To plant crops that will yield but
$40, SIS or $40 an acre on irrigated
land 10 loss OF time and energy. Ten
acres we'll and understandingly irri-
gated and cultivated, should produce
more than 40 or even SO are made to
at this time, and excess OF water Will
not accomplish the purpose OF the
grower.
Many thousands OF acres OF the fin-
est vineyards in California have been
badly damaged by excessive applica'
ton of water and must be again re
claimed" By drainage. The same ID
true Of large section In the Salt
Lake valley and In the valley below
Fort Collins, Col. At Barstow. Tex.
| 1t has been found necessary to dig I'm
| meuss drainage canals to carry OF the
excess water with which he soil
has been saturated. and the ano.
maIy is presented Of irrigation and
drainage bitches parallelinG each 9th
er. the latter to counteract the unwise
and extravagant use Of the former.
And this. in the face OF . cruel short
age OF water, thousands OF acres are
not TILED for want Of any supply
whatever.
It might be we'll for each irrigation
section to have . board Of practical ir-
rigationists who, with engineering d.
rection should educate all users OF ir'
rigauon waters In the prudent and )u'
dicious distribution.
The greatest advantage In irrigation
is the having Of water "on tap" to use
when needed and held in reserve
when not needed.
In a country where It rains but sci,
| dom and never in violent storms.
weather forecasts may be ignored. but
| In land where cloudbursts and semi.
deluges are among the probabilities.
double dose should be guarded
against with every possible precautton,
Having secured a water supply treat
1t as II 1t was worth money-do not
throw It away. Learn how much Is re-
| Quired to mature each crop planted
and use no more. including the natural
| PRECIPITATION. Do not drown your
lands Just because you are entitled to
take the water. II you do not need q
windbreak. plant fruit trees along your
bitches instead of shade trees. The
Mormons do this with good results.
Do not flood your orchards. fruit
trees do not need az much as alfalfa,
and moisture encourages the presence
Of insect pests.
Find what your land Is best adapted
for and specialize those crops. Do not
try to force nature against her will
you'll lose money trying.