The Ontario Argus. (Ontario, Or.) 1???-1947, 1920-02-26
IRRIGATION AND
SOIL IMPROVEMENT

altnOugn tnerc ~ yet mucn TO ne
learned of firrerent soil and plant re-
quirements.
OF the five practical methods Of
irrigation, the Border tIrlood) and
the Furrow (corrlgatlon) are the
better under conditions as existing
IN this section. with the former pre-
ferable where practical. Under
either method the runs should be of
such length only as will secure an
even distribution of moisture, the
same to be determined by soil and
surface conditions.
Time Of Irrigation
Fall irrigation is strongly recon-
mended. for the reason that II thru
out the dormant season the soil re-
mains wet the dissolution of such
materials as are needed for use of
plant life occurs, and as the carbon
dioxdes in the water exert a strong
ly solvent action upon the minerals
of the soil as also do the inorganic
salts and plant and animal residues.
this is OF tremendous value during
the early spring growth. II also hast
ems the termination OF seeds and
should the soil contain from 10 to II
per cent water to a depth OF 3 oriO
feet spring irrigation may be delay
cd. which is especially desirable for
cereal crops that tne rootlets may
penetrate the soil deeply. Pastures
should receive early and frequent
light irrlgatlons.
Soil Composition
or the ten distinctive separate Gle
ments necessary to crop production
Nitrogen Phosphorus and Potassium
limit the quantity and quality to n
greater extent than do the remaining
seven. These three must be proper
ly proportional. Should either be
deficient the soil will produce only IN
the proportion OF It's existence. I. O..
should either be or become 10 per
cent out OF proportion less than that
required by nature the crop yield
would bo decreased TO that extent,
the excess thus created In the others
would remain dormant until the de-
ficit IL restored. then an increased
production may be obtained by In.
creaslng the amount OF these clc-
ments In the proportion required by
natrue. This is her law, there is no
exception. Different types OF soil
must necessarily contain different
amounts OF these elements and fire.
quently they are not we'll. balanced
Analyzation OF the soil and fertilizer
trials is the only accurate solution
However. the county agent may be
able to approximately determine
cause OF trouble and suggest treat
ment.
Soil Improvement
Diversified farming II strongly |
recommended on All soils, here the !
question arises az to what crops are
adapted to yours. that Is your prob |
lem. and your success depends large
ly upon the proper solution. II is up |
TO you.
A carefully planned cycle OF high |
class crop rotation appears TO have
many advantages. enabling a steady |
economic use OF water, utilizing all
the different elements OF soil compo-
sltlon which should replenish rather
than exhaust the same. and by grow
ing crops requiring water at differ
ent periods OF the season the high |
power peak-load now made in fur
nishing water for a large acreage OF |
meadow and upon which power |
charges are based, would be avoided,
Furthermore, too extensive produe-
tion OF any one crop may eventually
lead TO Overproduction which results
In price stagnation, Experiments
are being made in sowing witch. soy
beans. mammoth clover and other
leguminous plants with growing
crops as a fertilizer. and also for fall
pasture, the success of which has not
yet been fully determined although
encouraging reports have been made
that the nitrogen humus and pasture
are OF great value is positive but the
effect upon growing crops is in ques-
tion.
Many fields treated with lime'
potash, sulphur and other minerals
for the use of different crops have
shown excellent results, and where
land is pregnated with alkali sweet
clover is recommended.
Soil Requirements
Fall plowing is preferable TO
spring for the conservation OF mo.s-
turs and in the adaptibility Tor
early spring seeding As no fixed
rule OF time of application, nor
amount of water TO be used can de-
finitely be made which would be APP
plieable to all localities, on account