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Show EVEN IRRIGATION OF SOILS Where Land Is Light Loamy or Sandy Nature It Is Great Problem for Farmer to Deal With. To evenly lrragte light loamy or sandy soil Is a problem that most irrigation ir-rigation farmers must contend with. Of course, there are irrigated areas where the soil is clay and not easily cut away by the water, but generally where Irrigation Is practiced a large part of the soil is of a light character, easily washed and cut away. Thereby are not only the plantroots exposed to the sun, but they are deprived of a root hold. To irrigate such land the most economical eco-nomical method is the use of the bordered strips and checks. If a pump Is relied upon to furnish the irrgation water, this system is the cheapest way to irrigate any kind of soil. Erect ridges, usually by plowing,'-so as to border flat strips of land, so arranged ar-ranged that the water may be discharged dis-charged into one end of the strip and so that It will flow flat by the ridges that border it. The ridges should be from 30 to 50 feet apart, depending mainly upon the amount of water and the slope of the land. Some irrigators manage to throw up their ridges at one plowing by back-furrowing, back-furrowing, but, of course, this method leaves a deep double furrow between the ridges that makes leveling more difficult. The quicker way in the long run is to plow the entire tract as level as possible, and after dragging It with a good drag plow up the ridges about three or four furrows wide. When you get the strip as near level as you think necessary, it is well, on new-land to turn in the water, and if there are any irregularities they will show up and can be leveled later. For grain such great care tn leveling is hardly necessary, but for alfalfa time spent In leveling means time saved in irrigation later. Of course, fhe soil next to the ridges is likely to be soft and easily washed out. To prevent this small dikes two or three feet long should be hoed up, extending from the ridge out into the flat. This backs up the water and helps spread it to the center of the flat. Some garden or orchard crops are better irrigated by ditch irrigation, but the flat culture, as has been here described, offers less surface for evaporation evap-oration and facilitates cultivation. |