The Ordway new era., 1911-07-28
OATS BY IRRIGATION
No Element of Risk When Rudi.
ments Of Science Applied.
Only Possible Where Sunshine 10 Per
petual and Supply Of Moisture
Under Absolute Control Of
Scientific Farmer.

There seems to be general interest
in,the subject Of the irrigation Of oats.
This Is perhaps the simplest Of all
crops to grow to high degree OF per-
fectiCn by the use OF artificial water.
In the arid belt the conditions Of soil
preparation. sowing and the first
stages Of growth are Identical year
after year. There seems to be no
element OF risk In the oats crop by
irrigation. when the rudiments Of sci.
ence are applied.
Scientific farming Ii the grandest
study Of the age. Scientific farming
eliminates every element Of risk In
the production OF maximum yields.
There is no Justification for the pro-
duction Of less than 100 bushels OF
oats to the acre by scientific methods.
The only climate which never varies
Is the practically perpetual sunshine Of
the arid regions. writes Newton Hibbs
In the Irrigation Age. Scientific farm
ing is possible only where the sun
shine is perpetual and the supply OF
moisture Is under the absolute control
Of the scientific farmer.
To produce perfect crop the seed
must be properly planted in the cor
rect degree Of moisture in the right
season. The question Of fertility Is
determined with certainty only when
the degree Of moisture Is regulated. 1t
is not necessary to try to illustrate
the degree Of moisture required for
the seed bed to the practical farmer.
The degree OF moisture necessary to
promote the rankest possible growth
Of straw is readily determined by the
experienced farmer either In the hu-
mid or the arid regions. II there 10
not an excess OF fertility in the soil
farming by irrigation is a simple
process. The application Of water In
response to the demands as indicated
by the changing color Of the plants Is
a very simple matter. The impossi-
bility Of definite determination Of the
correct degree and quality Of fertility
complicates the principle Of irrigation
Of the oats crop. The moisture regu-
lates the feeding Of the fertility OF the
soil to the plant even when there Is
an excess In the soil. therefore. the
scientific irrigator can regulate the
growth Of straw by limiting the mois-
ture, and be sure Of the height that
will not lodge and Mt the same time
support the very largest heads. With
the moisture under control 1t is just
as much faulty farming to have lodged
straw as to have a poor yield.
The trench system Of water appli-
cations is the best for oats crop. The
trenches are generally made by a
marker which will make two trenches
about twenty inches apart. two inches
deep and three inches wide. This
work is generally done after seeding
and before the grain comes up. 1t
greatly simplifles the irrigation by be-
ing certain Of the correct degree Of
moisture In the soil before the seed
is sown. This moisture will make
growth Of about four inches and cover
the surface with a dense green mass.
The green oats will shade the surface
SO that the wet ground will not bake.
Successive applications Of irrigating
water will be called for by the unmis-
taxable changes Of color Of the grow
ing crop A growth too rank may be
readily checked and a retarded growth
may be stimulated by frequency and
extent OF the applications OF Irrigation
water.