The new era. (Walden, Colo.) 1906-19??, 1911-09-14
COMBINE TWO PLANS
Irrigating Farmer Must Also
Know Dry Farm Principles.
Soil Mulch Is as Important With Irrl-
cation AZ With Any Other Method
Of AarIcuIture-Moist
10 Wasted.

It is well known that the irrigating
farmer must be dry land farmer.
too, and 1t is because Of the neglect
rigating farmers either fail or make
partial success where complete sue
cess ought to be brought about. The
principle in the soil mulch Is just as
applicable in irrigation as it is in dry
land methods of farming. writes w.
R. Waldron in the Farm. Stock and
Home. After water Is once applied on
the land it does not do to let the land
remain without cultivation. The top
Of the soil puddles. cracks and the
moisture that was gotten into the
land by irrigation escapes nearly as
rapidly into the open air, for in irri-
eating districts we generally have a
dry atmosphere.
II 1t is important that the irrigating
farmer learn the principles Of dry
land farming, 1t Is equally important
that the dry land farmer adopt irri-
eating methods wherever possible.
This may seem like an absurd thing
to say II the farmer does not live
near a steady stream Of water. but
1t is applicable just the same. The
dry land farmer probably would not
be able to irrigate every season. cher
wise we would call him an irrigating
farmer, but 1t Is generally possible for
him to irrigate small tract of land
at least during the spring months.
1t is one Of the common features in
the dry land areas to see in the spring
time gullies full Of water rushing of
with fertility and needed moisture to
the great rivers that empty finally
into the sea. In nearly all cases this
water passes away unheeded. and the
farmer in too many cases Is glad to
see it go for 1t allows him to get into
his fields that much quicker. 1t is
runs through ones farm to dam por-
ton Of this up, saving the water for
immediate or future use. A garden
may be selected, lying at or near the
draw below the dam, and the damned
waters can be conducted to the gar
den. If the garden spot is thoroughly
soaked In the springtime, the kitchen
garden supply will be insured for tho
coming season. Occasionally the
ground may be frozen when the snow
is melting. and In that case 1t will be
necessary to store the water until
such time as the ground thaws enough
to allow irrigation.
The heavy rains of growing sea-
son can generally be utilized in a
similar manner Too frequently the
heavy rains do much damage by the
heavy washing they bring about. A
portion of this damage can easily be
repaired II the waters are impounded
and made to serve a useful turn.
One must not forget that the mud
dy waters. as they rush away from
our farms. are carrying quantities Of
rich, fertile ingredients. which. to
that farm, are lost forever, and which
will never come back.
A well supplied kitchen garden is
of the greatest assistance in any sea-
son. and especially in a year like 1910
Its presence is twice welcome. Four
or five good cows 100 good chickens
and first-class kitchen garden would
go long ways In providing living
for a small family.
II the waters cannot be damned for
irrigation. in many cases a windmill
can furnish water to irrigate a small
area, and in irrigated areas. crops can
be grown much more intensively than
would be otherwise possible. The ac-
companying cut shows temporary
dam built in garden to stop the wa
tiers Of the melting snow. By means
of this trifiing affair. many barrels Of
water were conducted to the garden
spot and soaked into the SOIL that
otherwise would have been lost with
their burden of fertility.