The Citizen. [volume] (American Fork, Utah) 1903-1912, 1912-08-17
WASTE OF IRRIGATION
Much Loss Can Be Avoided by
Preparation Of Ground.
Much Dreaded Evaporation Can Be
Avoided by Using Water In Reser.
voir During Early Months and
Then Filling Again.

'Hen FNIlng Again.
How much water did you waste dur.
ing the last precious run? Didn't
waste any-not drop got out of my
held This may be true and still
you wasted water. 1t went down In.
stead OF off-and whenever water
soaks down one, two, yes, even FIVE
Feet in spots. II Is wasted. This can
only be avoided by more careful prep
aration OF the ground. In California
FOUND the bottom and sides OF many
supply laterals cemonted and the
helds were prepared as carefully as a
lawn tennis ground In Colorado. This
was true even In the alfalfa fields.
The old middle burrows and back fur
rows were entirel- oblterated, men
worked over the fields with hand grad.
ers after the levels had been used, and
every depression was filed and every
knoll leveled. The result was that
when water was turned on It spread
as on floor.
In Colorado the irrigator Is waiting
half the time for his head of water to
wet up the high spots, forgetting that
all this time the water is ipiuring the
crop on the low spots and viii In time
ruin the land. When we get down to
thorough Intensive farming and gar
dening our whole country will change
Its nature and appearance. | mean by
this intensive alfalfa crops intensive
wheat and oats, as well as intensive
gardening, writes d. c. Roberts in the
Denver Field and Farm. This
Will require the breaking up OF our
big ranches INTO TO- 20 and 40.acre
lots, with a nan working intensely
on every FIVE or ten acres. and this
will also require more constant sup.
ply OF water-not more water neces-
sarily but more frequent runs.
With our present water facilities
kept In good repair and under careful
supervision, there Is no excuse for
lack OF water even in the dryest sea-
sons. Some water should be in the
canal all the time during the planting
and seeding months OF spring. II a
reservoir is filled IN winter there Is
no need of letting II seep and evap-
crate during the hot season-use It up
hrst-say In April and May. It can
he again filed in June for August ir.
rigation. by this means the dreaded
evaporation so much talked about
could be avoided. All we need TO
make this fair and rich lay OF land
blossom as the rose is little prac
teal management.
often wonder why people do not
mulch more in their gardens and
around lawn shrubs and plants. The
benefits are two.fold. First. II ma
nure is used Il teaches into the sol
and fertilizes II. Second, Il keeps the
surface roots moist and hence vigor
aus. In the hot sandy lands OF Flor
ida advantage is taken in similar
manner by piling leaves weighted
down around the plants, thus conserv
Ing the moisture as well as protect
ing the roots from the excessive hea
Of the sun. An excellent way to keeI
strawberry plants productive and
thrifty - to make quite deep furrow'
between the rows and fill them will
strawy stable manure, well trampe'
down. This will keep down the weed
as well rs 1tTtlllZe lne plants anu li'
same rule applies quite as well to al
the bush fruits,
Water can be run through the row
slowly--or II by hose, can be sprayed
thoroughly. Clean straw or board
can be put closely around the straw
berry plants to keep the berries iron
sanding I see a few Pingree farm
In our town lots, but wish to see NOR
OF them. The little back yard 25xl0
feet viii produce strawberries, rasI
berries, peas. beans, lettuce, onions
asparagus. rhubarb, for good-size
family and then the fun is thrown Il
extra. Who does not enjoy the earl
morning inspection TO see how niue
the PLANTS have grown during tn
night, what new seeds have germ
mated and the prospect OF those d.
licious meals all from ones own ga
den. And must not forget the delec
able radish never good unless pulle
fresh frcm the ground and taken will
out delay TO the breakfast table. I
the man who will do these things
want 10 repeat the Irishman's toas
"May you live TO eat the chicken thi
s,ra,chas oyar your grave"