Lincoln County times. (Jerome, Idaho) 1911-1919, 1911-05-11
SAVING THE WATER
Office Of Experiments STUDYING
to Improve Conditions.
Too Much Water Used In irrigation
and Agents Endeavoring 10 Bring
About More Economical Use
Dry Farm Methods Profitable.

In recent letter to Secretary
James Wilson OF the department Of
agriculture. the secretary of the Dry
Farming congress outlined at length
the theory which is now becoming &C
cepted AS fact, and which has sew
eral times been discussed among the
leaders in the dry farming movement,
that the reduction in the use of irri-
CATION water to GO or possibly so per
cent. Of the amount now considered
necessary by the average irrig alton
farmer would not only allow an in.
crease in irrigated acreage. but would
Increase the food quality without re-
ducing the quantity OF the product Of
the irrigated farmer.
The possibility OF combining dry
farming and irrigation methods sue
cessfully was touched upon. and in
formation was asked as to the observa
lions OF the ONCE OF experiments In
reducing the amount OF irrigation
water served 20 the growing crop. lu
reply to this communication Dr. A. c
True. who has so long and successful
ly served ia the capacity OF direct
Of the progress in experimental worl
is due, writes:
Il agree with you that too much wa
/ ter has been used in irrigation. ant
for a decade or more our agents have
been endeavoring To bring about
] economical Thar of &c
this direction have been quite success
full resulting in the use OF nue.
smaller quantities than formerly. Tn
beneficial effects OF comparatiyel
small amounts OF water are shown il
he results obtained at some of our "a
pertinent station farms located il III
semi-arid belt.
Il likewise agree with you in III
close relation which exists bctwee
ry farming and irrigation Many q
he problems OF the farmer who cult
.ates land above the ditch are sin
liar TO those OF the irrigator belo'
be ditch. In our studies OF irrigi
ton. and particularly the loss OF ";
ter. We frequently reach the horde
line between the two. In 1904 al il
esiigation was begun to determin
the extent OF evaporation losses
irrigation. and TIE results obtaine
nave a bearing on the conservation {
moisture on the dry farm"
The results OF the experiments vi
der the direction OF Or. True hav
been compiled. and excerpts touchin
directly upon the subject as II pc
tains to dry land farming will. froI
time to time. be published in the Blu
letin.
At the fifth annual congress 1
Spokane an address prepared by d
rector Newell OF the reclamation SER
Ice was read, and later published 1
the Bulletin. For a long time tn
reclamation service. engaged as
was in working out the further deve
1pment OF the producing and distrib
tion OF irrigation water, failed TO re
lgnize the fact that 1t was possible
)ver-irrigate-this over-irrigation r
iultfng In two things: First. injury
soils: second. reduction OF acreage VI
der irrigation projects.
The address given by Director Ney
ell showed conclusively that the r
clamation service had begun MOI
earnestly to consider not only met
DDS OF distribution but Of saving irr
cation water. as we'll as the prevei
. lion of injury 90 soils.
Several moths ago in an addre'
given before commercial body
the secretary of the Dry Farming CO.
gress. prophesy was made that With
zen years the value of so-called dr
farming methods as necessary a
Iunct to the production of prodtab
crops on irrigated land will have bee
so thoroughly fixed in the mind Of Il
lrrigator that the acreage Of every
-igation project in the world will
doubled