OCR Text |
Show IRRIGATION NEEDED IN EAST Many Farmers In Humid Portion of Country Assured of Profitable Crops by New Method. If a farmer could at n reasonable ex-penso ex-penso secure an Insurances policy, guaranteeing him nn Indemnity ngalnst Ions of his crops through drought, there would bo thousands who would jump at tho chance. Tho chance Is here, explain officials of tho department depart-ment of agriculture, but tho number who take advantago of It are few. In tho east and more humid portions of tho United States whero land values val-ues are high, tho Intensive system of agriculture la rapidly replacing tho extensive. ex-tensive. A system of mixed husbandry hus-bandry has been largely replaced by special branches of farming. The many thriving manufacturing cities and towns that aro being built up have caused a great demand for fruit and vegetables. Tho high valuo per acre and tho uctlvo and Increasing demnnd for fresh fruits nnd vegetables hnvf Induced many farmers to enter upon the production of theso crops, nnd they aro the ones who need crop lnsuranco This enn bo socurod through tho es tabllshment of a simple lurlgatloo plant. Where tho cost of cultivation la largo tho losses from drought aro felt all tho moro severely, as tho expense nro csosutlnlly tho same whether a half crop or n full olio Is harvested Losses of from ono to two hundred dollars per aero as a result of n few weeks' drought aro not uncommon lu tho east. Tho experience of practical men and experiments by a number ot the stnto stations Indlcato that nn In cHtment In nn Irrigation plant where market garden crops and small fruit 6 nio grown will pay exceptionally good interest. Mr. Mllo D. Williams of tho dcpnri incut of agriculture, who Is In charge of irrigation Investigations In tho till mid region, tins compiled a tablo showing show-ing tho number of days when Irrigation Irriga-tion wns required during tho ten years from 1000 to 1009, Inclusive, in representative repre-sentative polntB In tho humid region. For Instance, at Amca, I.i., Irrigation was necessary 100 duy during this period; Oshkosh, Wla, 202 days; Vino laud, N. J., 352 days; Columbia, S. C. 5G8 days, and Selma, Ala., 721 dn8 Mr. Williams arrives at this conclu slon by determining that crops need water after eery dry period of not less than ID days, so that each and every day Included In tho tablo repre-bcutu repre-bcutu perloda that tho drought extended extend-ed over tho 15-day ierlod. While tho humid region farmer has not tho Inrgest wntor supplies that may bo available for the arid land farmer, ho haa many smaller streams which may bo developed cheaply. Streams varying In bIzo from crcoks to largo rivers nro usually nvallable for pumping purposes; ponds and lakes have few otlior uses thun for Irrigation, Ir-rigation, Tho process of applying water to crops by dlsti Uniting it through tho Holds under pressure which will spray It Into tho air nnd let it fall llko a gcutlo rain has great possibilities In tho humid region. A spray system will distribute wnter evenly over the surfaco of rough or rolling lands, regardless re-gardless of soil or underground conditions. condi-tions. Crops completely cocrlng the ground enn In this wny bo Irrigated Without damage. Spray Irrigation is also well adapted to thoso humid con dltlons which demnnd smnll and fro quent applications of water In the preparation of tho soils for setting out young plnnts nnd keeping thorn growing grow-ing through tho dry spell, or for soft cnlng tho surfneo to aid In weeding and cultivation. Incstlgatlons made by Mr. Williams hnvo demonstrated that Irrigation Is prolllablo for (ruck, berries and other hish-rrlced crops In nil parts of the hu mid region, nB woll as for citrus fruits In Florida. Thcro nro but fow years, he says, when Increased yield for sucb crops aa strawberries, celery, etc.. would not pay tho Interest on the first cost nnd tho depreciation of tho plnnt, whllo In such years as 1910 and 1911, when tunny sections wero without rain for two monthB, tho jlolds for n single year might bo aulllcleut to pay for Urn eutlro system. |