Rocky Ford enterprise. (Rocky Ford, Colo.) 1887-1950, 1912-05-17

| tHc e1IeCt OF tnlS KIM OF farming.
Not only does it waste the water, but
1t Injuries the crop, and l think it is
not an exaggeration to say that as
much damage is done by an excess
of water in the low places as would
be done by not irrigating the ridges
at all.
OF course the smoothing of field
means work, dirt is not easily moved
and requires considerable labor to
transport from one position of the field
to another. Yet when this is once
done the field is easily kept in con-
dition. Again it is difficult for
farmer to know just how much to take
off the ridges and where it should
be placed. A suggestion along this
line may not be out of place at this
time.
When you farmers begin irrigating
this spring and carry it on throughout
the summer, take bundle of stakes
to the field with you. and when you
tind the water refusing to go over a
high spot, drive stakes along this
ridge as high as the water goes, low
enough to allow the harvester OF reap
er to pass over them without strik-
ing. 1t might be well to make an es-
innate of how much should be taken
off here and how much filled in there.
Mark this on the stakes. then in the
fall when the prain Is harvested or
the hay is cut, these stakes will be
easily found. The ridges can then
be cut off and the dirt deposited in
the low places, which have also been
staked. then when the field is plowed,
it is i'll much more perfect condition
than ever before. A little attention
along this line. as the years go by,
will soon place our fields in excellent
condition.
1t does not require the services of
surveyor, although he can set the
stakes for you with greater accuracy,
and 1t would not be great expense
to have him do 1t for you. After one
or two years III the preparation of a
field you will be surprised at the
small amount of water necessary to
cover it. and when dry year comes
and your neighbor's crops are burn
ing up. in spots, for want of water.
you will have the satisfaction of being
able to put the bushels in the bin
There is farmer i'll Colorado who
came here when a young man and a
poor boy. He has made a sutcess OF
farming and has grown rich at it. He
secured 100 acres OF land with water
near Fort Collins. At first he was
satisfied that he did not have suifi-
cient water to irrigate his land prop
erly, but he started in to prepare his
fields, as he considered they should
be prepared in order to irrigate well.
and soon had them in frst-class con-
dition. He found then that he had
more than sufficient water to do the
work. He purchased another 100
acres without water. and as the years
went by he discovered that he had
more than sufficient water to irrigate
the 800 acres. He now uses onc-half
the water for double the land he had
at first.
oh, | know how you farmers feel
when one goes to preaching economy,
but when the alkali has spread, when
your land is seeped. just remember
that 1T is due to the lack OF economy
in applying your irrigation water.
Another great waste is in getting
the waters to the fields from the
main ditch.
Some time ago saw four head
gates in ditch within 900 feet of each
other, and these individual bitches
ran along side by side. two on one
side OF the road and two the other
for over mile before they reached
their respective farmers.
We must all remember that these
bitches are not water tight. We must
remember that running water down
ditch is like running it over a fine
sieve, as it is continually leaking
away. Again, the water is measured
out 10 the farmer at or near the head
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