The Blackfoot optimist. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1907-1918, 1911-02-09
IDAHO GREAT
IRRIGATOR
CONTINUED from page one.)

irrigation canals, when the natural
flow of the streams decreases in sum-
mer, is already in practice here. The
next move will doubtless be towards
a successful tapping of the subter-
ranean currents, bringing their wat
ers to the suface of the ground for
irrigation purposes. And even this
proposition is now being projected by
a certain company operating he
state.
The simplest answer to the quest
ion "Why is irrigation pract:Iced in
Idaho?" Because there mot suf-
ficient rainfall to properly develop
and mature the products of the soil.
This artificial application of water to
the soil is, therefore, demanded only
in districts where the natural pre-
cipitation is considered insufficient.
What then is the relative value of
precipitation and irrigation as a
means toward plant production?
It is a demonstratable fact that
plants thrive best under a maximum
supply Of sunlight, which, with soil
and water, form the three elements
absolutely necessary to plant hfe But
plants do not thrive best under
either a maximum or minimum supply
of water. Water must be applied to
the soil about the growing plants
with skill and at such times and I'M
such quantities as experience and
scientific training dictate. Water
dissolves the chemicals and life-giv-
ing ingredients of the soil and acts
as the vehicle upon which they are
conveyed into the assimtlating organs
of the plant. 1t lis reasonable there
fore, to say that the application of
water to the soil should be studied
with practically as much diligence as
the matter of seed selection or sea-
son and place of planting.
After a few moments of thoughtful
Consideration on this question, the cor
clusion lis apparent that precipitation
will forever cease to be a better
means of soil moistening until it can
be regulated as to time and quaint
ity as ONE regulates a head-gate in
an irrigation canal, which, of course
will never be.
The irrigation farmer applies water
to the growing crops in such quaint
ty as will stimulate perfect growth,
and when his grain has reached the
proper height he witholds further
water until the instinct of the plant
diverts it's energies to the creation
of a seed-head; when this change
takes place, he applies more water,
with the result that the plant is
stimulated lin the direction of seed
production.
With the rain belt farmer 1t is
entirely different; he is compelled to
take the rain whenever it comes
whether he needs it or not, or suf-
fer by it's absence when it refuses to
fall. 1t Us easy to see what would
happen to his crop, if, about the time
his brother, the irrigator, closed
down his headgates to allow his
grain to head" he should receive
a downpour of rain for week,
which, indeed, is mot an uncom-
mon occurance; he would reap a. har
vest OF straw, while the irrgatoI
would reap a harvset of grain.
The irrigator knows no excess es
hc knows no failures.
ldaho's irrigation record is indeed
phenomenal From a very insgnifi
cent beginning; practical irrigation
has grown to dimensions too enOr
nous for the mind to grasp in pass
ing word.
The six northern counties of the
state, which are classed as humid
have, until right recent years depend
ed upon the natural precipitation fol
crop productions; but now irrigation
to a greater or less extent, is prac
ticed i'm all of them, except Bonner
and Shoshone. The average yearl!
precipitation in rain is about 20 inch
es. The total acreage in these north
ern counties now being served by r
rigation would not exceed $4,000
which is the work of private or quas
public enterprise.
All the remaining counties of the
state, or the entire southern portion
is classed as arid, and here is where
the great irrigation enterprises ar
found. The mean precipitation in rail-
during the year would not average o
err 16 inches. The privately rrigate'
lands here would total fully 1855 ,O0
acres. The total lands, therefore, il
rigated in this state by what may b.
termed private concerns is conserva
lively estimated at 100000 ceres
Aaa +boroto , $40 S32 acres of Care