The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1916-07-13

"~ HE SOIL cOnClllOns OF the NeS9
under irrigation is problem
A question that must be final
ly and conclusively settled.
Not in theoy, but in practical every
day farm-like manner. In a way that
the farmer can understand. A solu-
ton of the question that the irrigatoi
can understand and solve as he does
the question whether alfalfa is ready
to cut, the grain ready to harvest,
the corn ready for the silo or his po-
tatoes ripe for digging: these are
questions of vital Importance, but
solved by the farmer at glance.
Is it not as vital to the farmer to
see at glance what the soil condi-
tions are, and what is necessary to
keep his land in the best condition to
produce and keep producing from year
to year in the best possible manner?
In the irrigation districts of the
west, the farmer or rancher must
understand both irrigation and drain
age in detail, or in other words, what
effect irrigation has on his land,
causing drainage to become necessary,
or why his land is arid and why sour,
why land that has been producing
ceases to produce, what causes the
sage to die, and why greasewood re-
places it on his land, why sage land
is productive and greasewood land
non-productive, to be able to look at
his land and tell at once why his crops
are decreasing on piece of land that
has produced well heretofore, and to
be able to solve the question for him
self To enable him to do this, he
must know the results of certain con-
ditions, not merely thai the water
table is rising, but as a physician dia-
gnoses a case by outward appearances
certain symptoms mean that certain
conditions exist in the human system,
these conditions mean to the physi-
clan a run down condition or blood
congestion. To the farmer they mean
an overworked rundown land Or
water congestion When these con-
ditions are understood, the knowledge
comes at a glance to the doctor or the
farmer, and the remedy is suggested
by the symptoms.
Need of Certain Moisture
A certain amount of moisture is
necessary for the health of indivi-
duals, and likewise a certain amount
of moisture is necessary to create
healthy productive soil, and in either,
an excessive amount of water pro-
duces detrimental results. Both are
the creations of nature, and in the
building, nature created certain drains
or channels for the carrying away of
the excess In the west, or arid land
districts, where the rainfall is limit
ed, these underground drains or chan
nels were small, but sufficient unto
the demand.I By the advent of the
irrigation system, the flooding of the
surface, the excessive percolation, ma
lures drainage system has been in
many cases flooded, the drains being
too small, were unable to carry the
excess and became clogged, in other
words congested or swamped. The
pressure year by year increases as
the water from the higher lands per-
colates downward, then this water,
unable to get away by its pressure
from above, gradually forces the I'M
water to the surface on
the lower levels and evaporation COM
mences, the mineral salts or alkali |
held in solution is left, the land is |
All running water carries
It's salts or minerals in solution. No
ice the pebbles in running stream,
hey are clean; notice the gravel IN
4 stagnant slough, and you will find
hem encrusted with mineral matter;
n a pool. slough or ditch, standing it
S dead, stagnant, without life. No
ice land that is loose, free from stag
lant water, it will be good live pro-
luctive land. Again land upon which
water stands and is allowed to eva
,orate, even a part of the yea, be-
.omes dead, non-paoductive, alkalied
md foul.
TO understand this, it is necessary
o know that land like plant and
lums life, breathes, both mus5 be
uppiled with fresh, wholesome air,
md this condition applies to water,
nut also further condition exists,
lot only must water circulate in or
Ter to live, but also plant life must
ave exercise, the winds blowing
ives exercise to plant life, and water
must flow. The lest water on the sur
ace is found in rocky brooks, fire.
uent falls or rifles proclaim life,
oy and health filled with clean fresh
ir, and the soil needs this clean fresh
ir, just as much as we, and to know
is land, the farmer must know how