Show FOLLY OF OVER irrigation water in plant growth la no more important than proper supply of air and temperature laet summer the writer of this article was visiting a farm and noted the stunted yellow appearance of a beld of spring wheat 1 I don t know why the should look so sickly I 1 have irrigated it three times already this spring said the farmer and right there was the solution of his problem gays a writer in the utah farmer the delicate wheat plant needs warmth and sunshine and air if it la to thrive but this thoughtless farmer was just pouring on the cold moun tain water until the wheat had nearly given up the struggle tor existence and succumbed to the ignorance and avarice of the owner he had an abundance of water and thought that he had better use it while there was plenty the field was already satur abed by the frequent and generous storms and adding more only tended to keep the soil cold and the plants stunted what the wheat field really did need was a good harrowing to break the crest and facilitate the en trance of air and sunshine with inch treatment the plants would have become healthy and vigorous the soil have retained its moisture and there v have been a much better condition all around farmers must learn the lesson sooner or later that water in plant growth Is no more am than la air an temperature it the poll Is saturated with water there Is no room tor soil air and as there Is such an excess of water that there Is constant evaporation going on the soil will be kept cold and growth will be retarded irrigate less cultivate more should be the motto of every progressive farmer |