Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1910-06-10
BEST Time
To |RR|GATE.
A VERY SERIOUS QUESTION TO
THE NEW CONFER rs WHEN TO
IRRIGATE AND AMOUNT or
WATER FOR BEST RESULTS.
GRAIN, ALFALFA AND POTATOES
John U. Mcpherson, with the Idaho
Irrigation Company, gives some
Valuable advice in the following
Article.
WINTER WHEAT

WINTER WHEAT
All of the winter wheat that
have seen on the Idaho Irrigation
Company's project thai has not
been irrigated is in need of irri-
cation, and the water should be
applied just as soon as possible.
1t is my belief that on most of the
fields that | have seen one tho
rough irrigation would be ample
to mature a first class crop. al
though in some cases this may not
hold true Most Of the fields that
have seen are now heading out
and should not be held back for
want Of moisture, as it will make
them head out too low and they
will not be sufficiently filled for
either hay or grain if water is not
applied.
SPRING WHEAT AND OATS
The spring wheat and oats, and
all other grain crops that are up,
and those that are not up, should
be irrigated as soon as possible,
and particularly on those fields
on which the crop is only partly
up. In such cases the field should
be pushed along with irrigation as
fast as possible so that at harvest
time the grain crops will all mature
at about the same time and will
save both having oats Too green or
having to let part OF the field
be too ripe at the time of harvest
Three good irrigafions should be
ample to raise maximum crop
the first year. The second year, of
course, the third irrigation could
be done away with in a great
many cases. but new ground which
has never been irrigated before al
ways takes more water than older
titled soils.
POTATOES
All potatoes that are up,and
those that are not up, should also
be irrigated at this time, and those
that are up should have plenty of
moisture to keep them at a steady
growth; and those that are not up
that have been planted in more or
less dry soils should be irrigated
up. Cut seed that is left to lie in
dry soils any great length of time
is very apt to shrivel and dry up
OF course, in irrigating potato seed
up, too much water should not be
used, that is, the ground should
not be completely saturated, but
enough moisture should be applied
so that the earth around the seed
will be quite moist, but not so
moist that it will be muddy. There
is a danger in applying too much
water TO seed that is not yet ger
as it may have a tenden-
cy to rot if if the weather remains
cool or damp after suchs irriga-
ton. Immediately after irrigating
potatoes,or as soon as the ground
will work up mellow, it should be
cultivated, both to aereate and
warm the soil and to conserve the
moisture that has been placed
there by irrigation. Cultivation anc
irrigation go hand in hand in the
successful raising Of potatoes and
The best results can only be OBJ
.ained by both irrigation and cul-
.ivation carefully and rightfully
done.
ALFALFA
The irrigation Of land before the
planting of alfalfa is not altogether
necessary. for if the land has
been thoroughly irrigated before
the soil is sufficiently dried out to
allow The team and seeder upon
it. it will be dried out to a depth
Of an inch. more or less. and this
is about the right depth TO seed al
falfa. 1t is my belief that if alfalfa
IS sown and the water is applied
after seeding, as good
results can be obtained from irrI-
eating afterwards, as there could
have been by irrigaiing before.
Great care should be taken in the
;rrioation of novV alfalfa Far in