Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1912-02-09
NEED OF IRRIGATION
Feasible and Necessary in Mid
die Western States.
Australian Expert Declares II Would
Largely Increase Profits of Farm
New and Improved Methods
Are Demanded.

other parts of the United States. for
the enlargement of crop production
and farm profits. is the opinion OF
Prof. s. Mcintosh, director of lrriga-
ton for South Australia, who, while
In Chicago a few days ago, was in
terviewed.
Professor Mcintosh takes the posi-
ton that nothing but intensive farm
ing and business methods will save
the agricultural situation. Land is ad-
vancing so rapidly in value that it
takes capital to engage in farming.
Better methods OF cultivation and
marketing are earnestly advocated by
this expert, who spends his time in
study and experiments in order to
advance the scientific aspect OF agri-
culture IN his country.
The growth of cities here and the
general expansion of the United
States have resulted in high-priced
land" said Professor Mcintosh. That
with the growing cost of labor makes
farming business proposition 1t re-
quires capital to get started right on
farm and then there have to be
business principles to bring return
on the capital In the middle west
farmers find the cost of production so
greatly increased that they must
move to cheaper land or adopt inten-
1--WE principles. That is as true for
dairying as for grain raising.
Farmers in other parts of the world
are learning how to accomplish as
much on forty or fifty acres as for
merly they did on one hundred. In
this locality they have to grapple
with the question of summer feeding,
owing to successive droughts, and
when It comes to raising an abund-
ance of forage crops as well as the
winters supply of grain, vegetables
and hay they need to consider irrt-
cation. In the modern aspect Of af-
fairs 1t will not do to let crop rails
Ing go on hazard. 1t is necessary to
make as much OF certainty of it as
possible.
TT is not necessary to wait for leg
islation to secure a water supply. |
believe that each state ought to assist
the cause of irrigation In some way
perhaps not on the extensive scale of
the general government, but in afford
ng legislation calculated to protect
all interests and showing just what
the individual has a right to do. But
would advise land owners to go
ahead and irrigate their farms as a
private enterprise.
I'm many cases it will be feasible
for number of individuals to coop
crate, and in that way there will be a
saving. A man should provide for the
cost OF water supply on his place
just as much as for a barn or any
other improvement that is considered
Indispensable
I'VE have demonstrated in hun
dreds of cases in Australia that the
ordinary gasoline engine will pump
acres. 1t is practicable to store the
water in an open cement reservoir
at some elevated point on the farm,
or a tank holding 1000 gallons or
more may be constructed for the same
purpose and filled either by windmill
or engine.
Intensive farming has become
necessary, not merely for individual
prosperity, but as an economic prin-
ciple Of worldwide Importance. Bet
ter farming on any plan or theory
may be called intensive but an as
oh h. a.
step toward that end. 1t has taken |
farmers of the central states many |
years to learn the Importance of sum-
mer feeding, to take the place OF in
adequate pasturage. They now need |
to study the value of soiling crops and |
ping. Much of the land wasted in
pastursge during dry summers may
be made profitable If devoted to for
age or fodder crops. With irrigation
and intensive farming, smaller places
will do, and the progressive man will
not only get started on a smaller in
restment of capital but will prosper
much better than he could under the
Did system"
Professor Mcintosh has experiment
I'd a great deal with double cropping.
This is comparatively easy. be says,
n the production of vegetables, where
crop is developed in from four to
eight weeks. With grain, forage or
odder 1t is q more difficult matter
rhe soil is constantly losing its sup
,ly Of nitrogen, potassium and phos-
,horus, some Of these more important
,rops making a heavy drain on the
nutrients in the land. Crop rotation
md liberal supplies OF barnyard fer
ilizer are the first essentials.
1t is an excellent plan to SOW rye
nd clover together in the fall to pro-
ide an early fodder crop the follow
ng summer. This may be cut about
be LIST of June, after which the land
makes good pasturage for a few |