40 



]3rown, Charles Mix, and Sanboni, ])ut practically iiotliing has been 

 done in these for several years. The seasons have been reported as 

 very favorable without additional moisture. 



. COST OF WELLS. 



The cost of digging these artesian wells varies with the size and 

 depth. They are constructed much cheaper at present than at the 

 time the larger wells were dug. In 1891-1895 a G-inch well cost from 

 12,000 to $3,500. Nearlj^all the wells dug at present are the smaller 

 sizes — 1-j, 2, or 3 inches in diameter — and their cost ranges from $400 

 to 81,000, according to size and depth, the regulation charge being for 

 a 2-inch well (the greater number being that size) about GO cents i3er 

 foot. 



DUTY OF ARTESIAN WATER. 



The most successful irrigators in the artesian basin emi)hasize the 

 fact that here the need is not to supply all the moisture required for 

 a growing crop, but simply to sui)plement the rainfall. 



The main defect in the rainfall is that it does not always come at 

 the time it is needed. To remedy this condition and to guard against 

 the danger of too much moisture when the rains do come are the 

 problems before the farmer in this section. Experience has proved 

 that it is a verj^ easy matter to get too much Avater, and that its effect 

 is more disastrous than too little. Owing to the fact that the precip- 

 itation is very nearly sufficient to mature the ordinary small-grain 

 crops, the amount of water which would be required for a 40-acre 

 tract in the arid regions would be sufficient for twice or even three 

 times that acreage here. Under proper conditions, with a reservoir 

 for storage puri)oses, those who liave estimated most closely say that 

 a 2-incli well will supply all the water needed on a half section of 

 land, Avhile a i-inch well would supply a section. This does not 

 mean that the entire half section could be covered eacli irrigating 

 season, but it has been found that a tract having a thorougli irriga- 

 tion during one season will raise a full crop of small grain the next 

 season Avith no extra water, for the water already in the soil is suffi- 

 cient to fully supiDlement the rainfall. 



This method has proved more successful than continued irrigation, 

 as it guards against saturation and its attendant soil deterioration 

 due to the deposit of salts. 



METHOD OF IRRIGATING. 



The method emi^loyed in irrigating varies somewhat with tlie crop. 

 For small grain the general plan is to plow the field in the fall and 

 then irrigate b}^ flooding, letting the water run until the ground is 

 well moistened, but not long enough to allow water to stand on the 

 field. This leaves the ground so that it can be worked in season and 

 furnishes moisture to germinate the seed. In ordinary years this is 

 sufficient, l)ut in a dry season another watering is given just as the 



