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Show BEST WATER FOR IRRIGATION Only Exception Being That Which Flows Over Alkali or Other Mlr srsls Injurious to Soli. What Is meant by storm water? 8torin water Is a word that la intended inten-ded to refer to all rainfall that does not sink Into the soil. 8torm water also applies to that kind of water that comes from melting snows in the mountains. The names probably started from the torrents of water that flow down streams after heavy rains and that comes down many streams In the spring and early summer sum-mer from melting snows, but however how-ever It started, it signifies all water from rain or snow that does not sink Into the soil, writes H. M. Madison In the Texas Stockman and Farmer. It will readily be seen that almost all storm water Is of the very best kind tor Irrigation, the only exception being that which flows over alkali or other mineral lands and become filled with substances that are injurious to the soil. The problem Is, therefore, bow to ratch this storm water and hold It so it can be used In those seasons when It Is most needed. Many ways have been devised for this purpose, and most all of them have been successful suc-cessful at certain places. One method may be good at one place, but because be-cause of the kind of soli or subsoil rray be bad at another. Or on account ac-count of the lay of the land one plan may be good In a certain section and useless In another. All the ways of using storm water will not be described de-scribed In this week's Issue, but a very simple form will be outlined. Tbls is a form that almost every farmer can use to advantage, yet as a substitute for the best forms of irrigation it Is poor. All it requires in the way of cash outlay Is the amount to be paid to a civil engineer to contour the land. This Is simply ascertaining the shape and size of lands that are on the same ' level. There might be ten acres In one tract, five acres In another and fifty In still another. The shapes of these different tracts might be very different Ilut when the engineer baa run the lines and given the size and . shape of the tracts that are on the I same level, there are little dams or levees to be thrown up along the lines I the engineer his run. This ran be , done with a team and plow In the same way an ordinary bead land la , made It plowing. A hoe and spade , can be used afterward to rake the , dirt Into little breaks and to make I the levee hold water. In the winter ( and spring when the heavy ralna come these little levees keep the wa- ter from running off, and as the levels I have been run makes the water stand somewhat evenly on any one of thi tracts. Tbls water In a few hours oi days will soak Into the soli and we! It down deep. Instead of It runntni off through streams and rivers to th 1 Gulf of Mexico, It is kept right In th land. " Hy and by, when summer come ' and there Is a drought the excess ol ' moisture that was held In the land from tbe winter and spring ralna 1 helps to sustain tbe crop. It will b ' readily seen that plants with deep 1 roots are best adapted to this kind ' of farming. It wilt also be seen thai ' when tbe dry season comes It Is de-' de-' cldedly better to use the principles of dry farming, especially Is It good I to stir the soli frequently, but only 1 to shallow depths. At the close t( ' tbe spring rain season. It Is also well 1 to roll or In some way pack the ' ground, for the reason that this tends ' to prevent tbe moisture in the sol) from evaporating. Later during the time when the soil Is stirred frequent-' frequent-' ly only to shallow depths, it will be ' found that the nearer o dust the very top soli Is kept the less will be tbe evaporation of the moisture and tba better will be tbe results. |
