The Thibodaux sentinel. (Thibodaux, La.) 1905-1912, 1912-01-20
NEED OF IRRIGATION
Feasible and Necessary in Mid
die Western States.

Australian Expert Declares It Wouie
Largely increase Profits Of Farm
New and improved Methods
Are Demanded.
That irrigation Is as feasible and
necessary In the middle west as In
| other parts OF the United States, for
the enlargement OF crop production
and farm profits. Is the opinion OF
Prof. s. Mcintosh, director OF trriga.
ton for South Australia, who. while
in Chicago a few days ago. was in.
terviewed.
Professor Mcintosh takes the posi-
ticn 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
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-
sive principles.
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 1t comes to raising an abund-
ance OF forage crops as we'll as the
winters supply OF grain. vegetables
and hay they need to consider irri-
cation. In the modern aspect Of az
fairs 1t will not do to let crop rats
ing 60 on hazard. 1t is necessary to
make as much Of q certainty of 1t as
possible.
1T is not necessary to wait for leg
islation to secure q 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
ing legislation calculated to protect
all interests and showing Just what
the individual has q right to do. Hut
! would advise land owners to 60
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 q |
saving. A man should provide for the |
cost Of a water supply on his place |
Just as much as for a barn or any |
other improvement that IL considered |
indispensable.
I'VE have demonstrated In hum
dreds Of cases in Australia that the |
ordinary gasoline engine viii pump |
all the water needed on dfty to 100 |
acres. It is practicable to store the |
water in an open cement reservoir |
at some elevated point on the farm.
or = 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
but ~ IN economic prin-
ciple OF worldwide importance. Bet
ter farming on any plan or theory
may be called intensive, but an A.
sured water supply should be the first
step toward that end. It has taken
farmers Of the central states many
years to learn the importance Of sum-
ner feeding. to take the place Of In
adequate pasturage. They now need
10 study the value of soiiing crops and
, successful system OF double crop
ping. Much OF the land wasted In
pasturage during dry summers may
BE- made profitable II devoted to for
lge 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.
vestment OF capital. but will prosper
much better than he could under the
Did system"
Professor Mcintosh has experiment.
I'd great dea! with double cropping.
This Is. comparatively easy, he says.
IN the production OF vegetables. where
\ crop Is developed In from four to
eight weeks. With grain. forage or
fodder 1t ia more difficult matter.
The soil is constantly losing its sup
ply Of nitrogen, potassium and phos-
phorus, some Of these more important
crops making a heavy drain on the
nutrients in the land. Crop rotation
md liberal supplies OF barnyard fer
Illixer are the first essentials.
1t Is an excellent plan to SOW rye
md clover together In tho fail to pro-
ride an early fodder crop tho follow
ng summer. This may be cut about
he lst Of June. after which the land
makes good pasturage for . few
weeks. II the growth Of clover Ia
heavy Il will pay to keep that field
or hay the next season. but II It IL
light It ought to b plowed up about
he LIST OF August and sown to mil
ct. This will add fine lot of hay
. the winters supply and the seed
Q Immensely valuable for poultry
eeding. II
Fodder corn could be planted after
he rye and clover are taken on IN
|une. II that Is preferable to milIet
either corn or millet may follow early