Lincoln County times. (Jerome, Idaho) 1911-1919, 1912-01-25
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.

oeneI parts OF the United States, for |
the enlargement OF crop production |
and farm profits, is the opinion OF |
frof y. Mcintosh, director OF irriga- |
ton for South Australia, who, while |
In Chicago 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 1t
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 a 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-
sive 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. vegetable
and hay they need to consider irri-
cation. In the modern aspect of af-
fairs II will not do to let crop rails
ing 90 on hazard. 1t is necessary to
make as much OF a certainty OF it as
possible.
1T 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
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.
In many cases it will be feasible
for a number OF individuals to coop
crate. and in that way there will be a
D. saving A man should provide for the
y cost of water supply on his place
Just as much as for a barn or any
other improvement that is considered
Indispensable.
We have demonstrated in hun
dreds OF cases in Australia that the
ordinary gasoline engine will pump
all the water needed on fifty TO l0l
acres II is practicable to store the
water In an open cement reservoir
at some elevated point on the farm
> or a tank holding 1000 gallons OF
more may be constructed for the same
b purpose and filled either by windmill
or engine.
y 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
sured water supply should be the frs
- step toward that end II has takeI
farmers of the central states man,
~ years to learn the Importance of sum
mer feeding, 20 take the place OF in
adequate pasturage. They now neeG
\ to study the value of soiling crops anC
successful system OF double crop
ping Much of the land wasted II
pasturage during dry summers ma.
be made profitable II devoted to for
age or fodder crops. With irrigation
and intensive farming. smaller place
will do. and the progressive man will
not only get started on smaller In
vestment OF capital. but will prospe
much better than he could under tn
old system"
Professor Mcintosh has experiment
ed a great deal with double cropping
This is comparatively easy. he says
I'm the production of vegetables, wher
crop is developed in from four I
eight weeks. With grain. forage o
fodder II is q more difficult matter
The soil is constantly losing its SUI
ply of nitrogen. potassium and pho'
phorus, some OF these more importan
crops making heavy drain on tn
nutrients in the land. Crop rotatio
and liberal supplies of barnyard fel
tilizer are the first essentials.
II is an excellent plan TO SOW ry
and clover together in the fall to pre-
vide an early fodder crop the follow
ing summer This may be cut abol
the 1st of June after which the Ian
makes good pasturage for ie
weeks. If the growth of clover
heavy It will pay to keep that fiel
for hay the next season, but If 1t
light Il ought to be plowed up abo'
the LIST of August and sown to mi
let. This will add fine lot OF ha