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Show Early Spring Irrigation and Use of Flood Waters (By L. M. Winsor) United States Department of Agri-cuitme' Agri-cuitme' and the Utah Agricultural Ag-ricultural College, In the crisis which confronts America Amer-ica today there are at least two important im-portant things which must -be done; t list; the mobilization of a gigantic army and navy tor active military service, and second; the increasing jt fhe nation s lood and munitions supply to meet the urgent needs of the country. Of these two tasks it .o pr0DabLe that the latter will be aiost difficult to accomplish. There is a dufy tor every loyal citizen to perform auda great responsibility iebts upon the tiller of the soil. To him the nation must Kirn for these products required for the maintain-ance maintain-ance of a food supply, not 0nly for Americans, but also for many of our allies. In increasing to the fullest extent .he resources of the Stte, many housands of acres of undeveloped lands must be brought under cultiva-ti0n cultiva-ti0n and, more than this, the water available for irrigation must be economically eco-nomically utilized. Iu Utah, moisture is the limiting factor in co-operative production, uid every available supply should be developed to the fullest extent if production is to be increased to the iimit. One source 0f moisture supply hitherto given but meager attention is that " furnished by mountain streams during Mood time in early 'jl.-ing. In many sections of the ilaie a large percentage of the flood waters is allowed to run to waste or, at the best, is used in an indifferent manner. The loss to, the farmers in this is enorniQUs when considered as a whole. One of the main troubles is lo imperfect canHl systems and the lack of proper diversion dafs and con. trol gates. Every stream should be provided with adequate diversions and canals for handling the entire surplus on lands which are withodt a water right or whiph have only a nrHal right. These canals sh0uld be clean and iu readiness when the iloods come on so that no water will 'e allowed to waste. Utah has an abundance of land, but a very limited limit-ed water supply and many large tiacts are still in brush or in dry-farm dry-farm crops when they might be irri-gated irri-gated by the surplus flood water, l.'ther sections covered by a limited supply nf normal flow might utilize the high water in, early spring irrigation irri-gation with decided benefit. The early spring wter in the case of lands already under irrigation may be applied with benefit on: 1. Alfalfa lands where the ground water is far removed from the surface. sur-face. 2. On all well drained lands which are to be planted later in the season. 3. On grnin lands before planting, plant-ing, where the normal moisture content con-tent of tile land is insufficient to mature ma-ture the crop without further irriga-!.oti. irriga-!.oti. One such lrrigation before planting is usually w()rth two aUer planting. Over irrigation of any soil is harmful but under irrigation, when v. ater is available for use and when the farmer plalms H right to its use, should be a misdemeanor punishable by revoking the right to such use. The early waters should be used " ith just as much care as is exercised ! in mid season in order that none will ! J'e wasted. Water properly stored I in the soil means successful crops. ! The longer it is stored in the arid ' soils the more producing power It lias when brought into action in the; growing plants. Therefore, the soil may be considered ;, storage reaer- ! voir more valuable than that con-' slructed for the impending ()f flood ! waters in t'lorage basins. I In any normal Utah soil or average depth, plowed in the fall or early I I'llnr, then irrigated and thoroughly i cultivated before planting, a crop of j ' ;i 'n . corn, beans, or potatoes may be assured, without, further irriga-t irriga-t ion. After irrigating an alfalfa field early, lhe spring tooth harr(,w should ! be appl:erl freely so as to loosen the i surface and insure the free circula- j '"ii of air, and the conservation of. the moisture thus stored. When H; "eUl of plowed land lias been lrrig.,1-; ed before planting It should be f'ol- i lowed by th(irough harrowing of! I e '.iirta,.e in order that the blanket mi'lih may prevent evaporation ami : ''isure plenty of moisture for gerinin- itlnn and inaintainanee of crop e ro r.v f li . ; If 'lie cultivated ro in to le planted lo rottoes, the surface ninb h may be made two or three im-hes deep; but if alfalfa, grain or -;;or small seeds are to be planted, t!r-; surface whieh should be but o'.e or not over one and one half inches deep. Failure-: In the uniform o iiipnt:nn f small seeds on land irrigated before planting are usually ! i nee a He to ibe fact that the soil iin-- b'.c'n f-li-'ed too deep after irrigation. irri-gation. In the spring the s()il will dry out iu?t ts dce;i as if lias been dis!urled. Tho e a few nf 'he points that reriv v r-ll be ronsiderpd if Utah it to no her part in the great tat-'k of feeding a N'aUon or Nations in this gret world conflict. |