Lincoln County times. (Jerome, Idaho) 1911-1919, 1911-08-03
OATS BY IRRIGATION
No Element of Risk When Rudi-
ments of Science Applied.
Only Possible Where Sunshine is Per-
petuaI 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-
lection 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 is 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 a 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 hui
mid or the arid regions. If there is
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
complexities 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 thai
will not lodge and at the same time
support the very largest heads. Will
the moisture under control 1t is jus
as much faulty farming to have LODGED
straw as to have poor yield.
The trench system of water appli
cations is the best for oats crop. TIL,
trenches are generally made by
marker which will make two trenche
about twenty inches apart, two inche
deep and three inches wide. Thi
work is generally done after seedinl
and before the grain comes up.
greatly simplifies the irrigation by be
ing certain of the correct degree o
moisture in the soil before the see
is sown. This moisture will make
growth of about four inches and cove
the surface with a dense green mass
The green oats will shade the surfac
so that the wet ground will not bake
Successive applications of irrigatin
water will be called for by the unmi'
taxable changes of color of the grow
ing crop A growth too rank may b
readily checked and a retarded growt
may be stimulated by frequency an
extent OF the applications of irrigatio
water