The Greeley tribune., 1912-08-15
IRRIGATION
IN THE EAST
Uord Ogilvy in Denver POST

Florida has rainfall of from 40
to 10 inches. but II nearly all falls
between April and October and the
winter grown vegetable crops only
show their greatest profit when ir-
rigated. In Georgia crops have been
trebled by irrigation and worn-out
cotton lands reclaimed. Around
Selma, Ala. there are numbers of
flowing wells, most OF whose waters
irrigation very protitably to tide
over droughts which occurred be-
tween 1900 and 1909, no fewer than
so times for periods of from 10 to
so days duration.
DIR. Samuel FOrtier OF the irrisa-
tion Investigations says of irrigation
in New Jersey that 1t will pay for
crops with q valuation of from $50
to $3.50 per acre II the land is prop
erly farmed, for increases of crops
from $40 to 500 per acre and more
have resulted, while IN the west
rainfall is merely supplementary to
rainfall in the east. the condition is
reversed and irrigation ekes out an
irregular supply from above. main
tains a continuous growth, which
makes for earliness and thrift and
can be applied at the time plants
come into bearing. when crops often
fail for lack of sufficient moisture
Some OF the most successful east
ern systems are by the aid Of over
head sprinklers installed at cost
, of about $500 per acre.
A main feed pipe is laid across
the end or through the center of
the field at intervals of so or 60 feet
are stand pipes feeding laterals
seven feet above the ground. which
run parallel across the field. These
are fitted with nozzles four feet
apart. all on the same side of the
pipe. which throw fine straight
stream of water. The lateral pipe
being fitted to revolve upon its bear
ings, 1t can be turned to cover the
whole area of ground. The irri-
gator Is said to have complete con-
troll Of water distribution, but If he
has 1t works better than most
sprays, which are extremely apt to
throw much more water in one place
than another. and certain spots will
usually be found too wet and others
too dry.
There Is no reason why these
spraying plants, when operated with
pump. could not be used to throw
insecticides, and this would pay a
large part OF their cost, now that
pests are becoming so common.
Probably in the west ground and
spray irrigation produce the best
results combined. for the former
method insures wetting the subsoil
which spraying does not and the lat
ter can be applied when merely a
refresher is needed. Both methods
have their advantages. and given a
receptive soil sprinkling will do
very well In the early part OF the
season. while plants are shallow
rooted, but will prevent them root
ing deeply II the soil becomes pack
ed and crusted on top. so that the
water does not descend, and this
condition is common to many of our
lawns.
/ A heavy soil will only take water
twhen II passes somewhat slowly
over its surface. Even beating
rain will, for the most part. run off
unless the soil has been lately culti-
waited to some depth.
A sandy soil, on the other hand,
or a gravel in which the water de-
scends too rapidly. and whose water
holding capacity must be increased
with manure and humus would be
we'll suited by the sprinkling me-
thod with its small and frequent ap-
plications, which would be used as
they passed downwards by the plant
roots.