Show FIRST irrigation OF SOIL i i f there t very little danger of get ting too much water on new land for first two seasons on new lands there Is little danger in uslie too much water for the first two seasons after reclamation begins many 0 our western solla have never been wet to a depth of two feet at least since the climate began to be arid and most of our soils have probably been formed since that time before these soils can be put in the best producing condition they need to be so thoroughly saturated with moisture that the subsoil la well saturated or there Is a union of the free water near the surface with that which conett atutes subsurface drainage this movement Is what Is known aa film moisture downward into the bolls occupied by plant roots and into the drainage does many things which am prove its cropping capacity it the increases downward the roots of the plants are induced to grow deeply into the soil and establish permanent and important feeding terns the importance of deep root ing especially with perennial plants can hardly be underestimated and where the subsoil remains dry deep rooting will not occur the first irrigation therefore should be abundant and continued tor a long enough time to soak deeply in to the subsoil of course much will depend on the character of tho soil its depth and porosity if a crop Is being grown which will not stand the flooding of a sufficient length of time the irrigation should be done by run nang water through furrows or carru gallons one of the apparent reasons for beginners falling to get maximum crops on new soils Is that do not understand the necessity of filling the subsoil with moisture which both supplies the roots of the plants and does many things to bring the land into proper condition of after the soil has once become wet it will absorb water much more ly and aa there Is a partial supply of moisture stored in the subsoil much less water will be required to secure what we may call a thorough irrigation it Is after the land has been irrigated a few seasons that the danger of over irrigation la greatest over irrigation Is much more apt to cause trouble on heavy soils or those without good drainage here the water stands for a long time on the surface partially or wholly drowning the crop and destroying useful bac teria or preventing them from pl lehing work because of the lack ot air |