The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1919-06-10

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withheld to permit the new growth
Of wood to ripen thoroly before
freezing weather. In order that the
trees may be induced to develop
symmetrically, water should be fed
to them from all sides, which is eff
fected by circling the tree with the
furrow. The root system of a tree
is usually understood to extend as
far out as does The branch system;
therefore, as the tree grows, the ir-
rigation water should be we'll applied
over a correspondnigly increased
area.
Alfalfa
The time of irrigating alfalfa il
a matter concerning which there is
much debate. Alfalfa does best when
the soil contains just the amount of
water 1t can use to advantage; too
much water produces poor hay, and
too little water makes a short crop.
1t has been found profitable to make
later fall irrigations, provided it is
certain the water will be absorbed
into the soil. II water freezes. on
the surface, the stand OF alfalfa will
be destroyed.
The first irrigation in spring
should be delayed as long as possible
without checking the growth of the
plants. This will permit the soil to
become warm and encourage the
roots of the plants to strike deeper
into the soil. :.
The rule adopted by many alfalfa
growers is one irrigation for each
cutting, and ordinarily this is suff1ci-
ent. In some sections, one irriga-
ton is given before the first cutting
and one after the last cutting, with
one irrigation between the cuttings.
Don't over-irrigate your alfalfa. If
an excess of water Is applied, the
plants will endeavor to throw off
the excess into the air, and in doing
so, the natural condition of the plant
is changed, and coarse, woody hay
results. On the other hand, too lit
lie water results in scanty foliage.
A saving in irrigation may be &C
complished if the alfalfa field is Gull
tivated we'll with the disk, harrow,
or special alfalfa cultivator, at least
once each year. The best plan is to
so cultivate the field early in spring
and again after the last cutting.
Wheat
The quantity and quality of the
grain produced is influenced greatly
by irrigation and much damage is
likely to be caused by late watering.
Experience and experiments show
that little good is accomplished by
irrigations after the bloom stage has
been passed. The earlier irrigations
have the greatest influence on the
crop in matter of yield, and if there
is plenty of moisture in the soil when
wheat is in the boot" or just start
ing to head, it is all that is necessary
to make the crop.
Late irrigation-that is, after the
wheat has passed the bloom state
are likely to cause damage to the
crops by lodging" as when the
heads become heavy the straws are
likely to break over. Water applied
after the plants have headed out
softens the ground and causes the
plants to go down in wind.
The following summarized results
were secured by the Utah station in
the irrigation of oats:
1. OF the plats receiving water
at various stages of the crops growth,
the highest yield was produced on
that receiving three 5-inch irriga-
tions, one at the five-leaf stage, one
at the early boot" stage and one
in the bloom stage.
2. Where only one irrigation was
given the best time to give it was
at the five-leaf stage.
8. Where two irrigations were
given, the five-leaf and the "boot"
stages were best.
4. In general, the first irrigations
were of most value to- the crop; the
second came next.
5. Water applied after the grain
was planted and before it was up de-
creased the yield
6. Irrigation always retarded ma
turity, especially when applied at the
later stages of growth.
Z. Twenty acre-inches Of water
spread over four acres Of land, pro-
duced three times as much oats as
where it was all used on one acre.
8. The experiments show that
under conditions reported, the best
system of irrigating oats is to apply
three irrigations of about five inches
each, beginning when the grain is
six or eight inches high, and stop
ping about the time it is in blossom.
Potatoes
The following summarized results
were secured by the Utah station in
the irrigation of potatoes:
1. The highest yield of potatoes
was produced where small regular
irrigations were given.
2. Watering the land after plant
ing the potatoes and before the
plants were up reduced the yield be-
low that where no irrigation was
given.
8. Where but one irrigation was
applied, it gave best results if APP
piled when the potatoes were in full
bloom.
4. The second best stage was just
as the tubers began to form.
5. Disseminating irrigation during
the rapid growing season, after 1t
was once begun, decreased the yield.
6. Excessive moisture, or that APP
piled late in the life of the plant,
increased the relative production OF
vines.
7 The relative numbers of tllbers