The Canon City record with which is consolidated the Canon City cannon., 1911-12-21
CONDITIONS AFFECTIne
the DuIY Of WAFER


Not only methods of irrigation, sub
soil conditions and climatic conditions
affect the duty Of water. but the kind
OF crop. the preparation of the fields
for irrigation. as we'll as many othar
conditions. play an important part ip
the correct amount Of water that
shcSld be used to mature a certain
akind Of crop.
Ideal conditions are never possible.
DIVE must make the existing condi-
tions Approximate. as well as We can.
that which is best for the conserva-
tion of moisture.
Each year in our irrigation history
we are finding the need Of more water
to cover the areas prepared for culti-
vstion In our western country. We are
in a way. successfully meeting this
issue. but we still see before us many
things desirable in ways of methods
and improved conditions that will
greatly increase the area now being
irrigated with certain water supply.
The community that speciaiizes IL
particular kind of crop that re-
quires irrigation at particular times.
necessarily cannot obtain the highest
duty OF water, because at the inter-
walls when the crop is not in need of
swate1sthis irrigation head could be-
applied to other fields where profits
could be substantially increased. A
liberalization OF crops is recommend
ed where the farm is irrigated BY
bitches that flow continuously.
Where water is scarce and many
farms are to be irrigated by a GER
tain water supply. We find 1t exceed
ingiy wastefui to attempt the irriga-
tIon OF the whole area at the same
time. Rotation In the use OF water Is
found TO be beneficial as well as in
somc cases absolutely necessary 10
Ieoduce n crop. BY the rotation In
the use OF water larger Irrigation
head Is assured and the losses from
evaporation and percoiation are fna-
terially decreased. leaving more wa
ter available for the beneficial use OF
the plants where small heads are
used in irrigation we fnd the area
we can cover smaller as compared
wi,Astr larger head. and we further
md that In our a,emp, to cover the
area with the smaller head OF water
we are obliged TO have the water set
at particular place long enough to
cover tho area In question that We find
great amount OF the water has per-
coiated far below the roo; zone OF the
growing plants and is absolutely
lost. We can cover large area in
shorter time with larger head of
water and the losses in the latter case
are considerably smaller than in the
former.
= The preparation of the fields for
Irrigation will Increase the duty o.
water In that It makes It possible 70
thoroughly irrigate the field in
much shorter time. and again our
losses due to percoiation and evapo-
ration are lessened.
Perhaps the greatest factor affect
ing th<>dnty OF water Is that OF cu,-
tivation. II the water absorbed BY
the soil can only be retained and
rlXSe available for the growth of the
plant. the problem OF the duty of wa
ter has been practically solved. Crops
that will permit thorough cultiva-
ton after a thorough application of
water will show decided Increase in
the yield. It has been determined that
the evaporation from an uncuitlvate.i
feld In a single month is four times
that of similar field having S-inch
dry mulch.
RALPH Il. PARsafALI.,
roioraao A,rtc,ttrrat f,otyov.