The Citizen. [volume] (American Fork, Utah) 1903-1912, 1912-08-17
IRRIGATION NEEDED IN EAST
Many Farmers In Humid Portion Of
Country Assured OF Profitable
Crops by New Method.

II a farmer could at a reasonable ex.
pense secure an insurance policy,
guaranteeing him an indemnity against
loss of his crops through drought,
there would be thousands who would
jump at the chance. The chance Is
here, explain officials of the depart.
ment of agriculture, but the number
who take advantage of 1t are few.
In the east and more humid portions
of the United States where land val.
ues are high, the intensive system OF
agriculture is rapidly replacing the ex
tensive. A system OF mixed hus-
bandry has been largely replaced by
special branches of farming. The many
thriving manufacturing cities and
towns that are being built up have
caused a great demand for fruit and
vegetables. The high value per acre
and the active and increasing demand
for fresh fruits and vegetables have
induced many farmers to enter upon
the production of these crops, and they
are the ones who need crop insurance.
This can be secured through the es
tablishment OF a simple irrigation
plant.
Where the cost OF cultivation lie
large the losses from drought are felt
all the more severely, as the expenses
are essentially the same whether a
nalf crop or full one Is harvested
Losses of from one to two hundred
dollars per acre as result of few
weeks drought are not uncommon IL
the east. The experience OF practical
men and experiments by number OF
the state stations indicate that an in
market garden crops and small fruits
are grown will pay exceptionally good
interest.
Mr.. Milo b. Williams of the depart
ment of agriculture, who Is in charge
OF irrigation Investigations in the hu.
mid region, has compiled table show
ing the number of days when irriga'
ton was required during the ten years
from 1900 TO 1909, inclusive, In repre-
sentative points in the humid region,
For instance. at Ames, Ia, irrigation
was necessary 1870 days during this
period; Oshkosh, Wis, 292 days; Vine
land. y. j., 1852 days; Columbia, S. C..
SOS days. and Selma, Ala, 72i days
Mr.. Williams arrives at this conclu
sion by determining that crops need
water after every dry period Of no,
less than 10 days, so that each ant
every day included in the table repre-
sents periods that the drought extend
ed over the l5-day period
While the humid region farmer ha,
not the largest water supplies tina
may be available for the arid lant
farmer, he has many smaller streams
which may be developed cheaply
Streams varying in size from creek
to large rivers are usually available
for pumping purposes; ponds AM
lakes have few other uses than for II
rigation.
The process Of applying water {
crops by distributing 1t through tn
, fields under pressure which will spra
1t into the air and let It fall like
gentle rain has great possibilities Il
. the humid region. A spray system
, will distribute water evenly over tn
surface OF rough or rolling lands, re
CARELESS OF soil or underground cond
, lions. Crops completely covering tn
, ground can in this way be irrigate
, without damage. Spray irrigation
also we'll adapted 10 those humid col
ditions which demand small and fr,
quent applications Of water In tn
preparation of the soils for setting on
: young plants and keeping them grow
/, ing through the dry spell, or for sof
= ening the surface to aid In weedin
, and cultivation.
!, Investigations made by Mr.. William
:. have demonstrated that irrigation
profitable for truck, berries and othe
:, high.rriced crops In all parts OF the HI
= mid region, as well as for citrus fruit
In Florida There are but few year
= he says, when increased yield for sue
crops as strawberries, celery, etc
would not pay the interest on the FRI
= !, cost and the depreciation OF the plan
y while in such years as 1910 and 1911
: when many sections were without raj
: for two months, the yields for a sing
" year might be sufficient to pay for II
! entire system.