American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1911-03-11


Then apart frcm the Influences
which early training may exert there
ID always present the vital question
OF money.
Many new settlers have not the
can to prepare their fields Tor the
easy and efficient method OF irriga-
ton. They are compelled to resort
to crude methods.
others again have an excuse for
tneiY poor methods. They are tenant
and Wish to obtain the greatest i'm
mediate return for the least posi-
BILE expense.
The size OF a farm a much to
do with the name of i~rrigating II.
There Is a wide diversity In soils
and subsoils. This diversity calls
for notifications In the methods EN-
ployed In preparing the surface and
applying the water. The farmer In
one locality cannot use the furrow
system on count of the porous ma
ture OF the soil and subsoil. In 9TH
or localities nothing but burrows can
be used for the reason that the fine
volcanic soil bakes SO readily when
the surface is flooded as 10 damage
the crops.
The nature of the surface as well
AZ the steepness of the slopes is like
wise to be considered.
And finally, the variety Of the
crop raised Is a cause of the differ-
ences In irrigating methods.
Ii is unfortunate that an impress
aion has gone abroad that irrigation
ia some kind OF a mysterious science
and before one can become an irrigs.
tor he must go through a long and
tedious course of training.
Irrigation Is very simple and prae-
ticable, and any farmer with intelll-
gence enough to know that water
Will not readily flow up hill, and
that vegetation can be drowned by
an excess OF moisture, as well as
famished by drouth. may become "A
good practical irrigator with one
seasons experience.
For the purpose of irrigation the
thing of the most importance Is the
preparation of the ground by level
ing and grading.
To land well for irriga-
tion liz very important. for In its
natural state the ground Is very ir-
regular. and a certain amount OF
leyeling IL required.
The injurious effect OF attempt
ing to spread water owe uneven
uurfsc es is soon apparent, as the
water settles In the low places and
not enough reaches the higher ele-
vations. leaving the crops thereon
to burn up or be inferior In quality
or quantity.
When once "A field IL properly
graded, one man can apply the waite
to every part of 1t with greater
rapidity and effectiveness than two
or three men can irrigate a like are
when the land Is not properly level
ed. Grading should usually be done
after the bitches have beer made,
as ii will be found that less grading
will have to be done than in reduc-
ing the whole farm to a uniform
slope.
Too much stress a % be put
upon the Importance of leyeling the
laterals at the outset.
The amount of leveling neces
sary viii depend on the fall or
slope OF the land. Where the slope
Is considerable comparatively little
leveling is required. but when the
land has very little slope great pains
must be taken to make the surface
as even AS possible.
The Improvement Is a permanent
one and the time and labor spent
in such preparation is amply com
pensated for by the ease with which
irrigation Is accomplished aud the
greater yield in crops.
The laying out of a system OF
bitches and laterals on a farm to
convey the water over the land Ia
rather a difficult problem for a
beginner and It always best to have
this work done In the first In
stance by some n who has had ex
perience.
In laying out a system OF laterals
to serve a farm. 1t is important for
future saving OF money and labor to
run the main lateral along the high
est portion DR. boundry OF the farm
IN order TO command the greatest
irrigable area, Every system OF per
manent bitches and laterals should
be laid out with an engineers level.
In lieu OF the services OF a sur
veyor. the farmer may lay out his
own iaterals using some type OF a
Va " WIN cuth 80 - - -
a. = level upon a tripod. or on a
.s,r.fs vt edge with a leg at each end
On ro ning land the bitches are
nm on the ridges and follow the
contour OF tn 'anu,
On land with a uniform slope or
slope In one direct,,oh ana AZ regular
intervals. the most COZ pIao.,.e'
is to run a supply ditch oewn 'ne
slope along the highest bouA oi
the field and from this ditch run 'h'
sstcrals through the field across thu
80 "a ~"ntnnr with Just enough
grade to carry the water.
h ~Iaterais running across h
fields are placed at more or less In
teryals from $50 to 500 feet. &C
cording to the slope and nature OF
the soil.
On the light sandy soil they aus
be placed close together. or the and
Ill 100 400 much