Rensselaer Republican, Volume 27, Number 31, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 March 1895 — FARMS AND FARMERS. [ARTICLE]

FARMS AND FARMERS.

TO AVOl.I) DROUGHT. If the farmer can avoid drought fee will always be sure of a crop. Drought comes unexpectedly, and either ..destroys his crop entirely or So reduces the yield as to leave but little for his labor. The problem of preventing drought, or mitigating its effects, has been studied for centa ries: but, while tliertr have been

several proposed solutions,The exgeuse has been a barrier in the way. ainmakers have tried methods for the purpose of preventing drought, but with unsatisfactory results, and rivers have been made to provide water in unlimited supply, but the majority of farmers are not so situated as to be able to use the nretb* ods of irrigation proposed. With the greatimprovements in windmills and pumps, however, have followed a cheapening of the cost of water supply, and experiments within the past five years have demonstrated that in inqny localities the farmers rau greatly reduce the effects of drought by providing a supply of water at a minimum expense and at a profit proportionately exceeding any outlay in that direction. The only difficulty kr the way is to arrange some plan by which water can be stored until wanted for use. This may be done in reservoirs on

farms and iu large tanks for small areas. No particular plan of ar- i rangement can be mentioned, as too much depends on the location of each {arm,jts diversity of surface and; other conditions, but the fact re- j mains that wherever windmills can ; be used the farmer can store a sup- 1 ! ply of water which will be always j ready for use. It is only necessary j that the water be stored so as to per- j mit of its flow by gravity. It is es-; Timated that one windmill will irri—;gate two acres or more, and, if there is a large reservoir, and sufficient storage capacity, seven acres may be provided with water, estimating for the quantity required other than from a supply by rains. In arid j regions the water must be in abundance, but the windmill is intended as an assistant to the clouds, and, not to provide more than the proportion needed duringadry season. If a line of pipes be connected ■with the reservoir, or even a large

lank, the water may be turned on from a number of co'cks, or branch pipes, to flow down several' rows at a time. It is even possible for a small . plot (for instance strawberries) to receive water from a hose. It is done by making a small!urrow with a hand plow and allowiug the water to flow into the furjrow a sufficient length of time to permit of saturation. A furrow betweco each row is sufficient, and a bov cntY'water a large area in a day. It may not be necessary to perform the work in one day, and the pump will at the same time be storing more water. Even a well pump, connected with a hose, will be found useful, though more costly' and laborious, it is well known to all farmers what the result will be to the crop—enormous production. With the use of fertile izers. and sub-irrigation practiced, an acre will produce as much as four acres during a dry period, with better quality of products and higher prices obtained. The object here is jto induce farmers and fruitgrowers to experiment the coming season, if only with a lew rows of fruits or vegetables. The proper mode of irrigation will then depend on the situation of the plot, and it is safe to state that if the farmer finds that thq method pays he will not be long in devising the best method for his pur* pose.