56 



often refunded the first season in the lessening- of the labor bill. By 

 the use of a box of this kind a stream may be divided into three parts, 

 in proportions to suit the convenience of the user, or it may be diverted 

 from one course or lateral into another running- in a different direction. 

 Old alfalfa tields in Yellowstone County are irrigated one to four 

 times during the period of growth. Three crops are obtained from 

 the same tield in one season, and as a rule each crop is irrigated. One 

 man handles 80 to 125 miner's inches. The laterals are somewhat 

 larger than those found in grain tields and the water is checked by 

 canvas dams. Occasionally one sees a farmer who uses manure for 

 checks, but the large majority use canvas. Water is distributed as in 

 grain lields (tig. 5). The proper time for each irrigation and the 

 proper amount of water to apply are questions that have not been 

 definitely settled. Too little water diminishes the yield and too much 

 injures the soil by bringing- up the alkali. Between these two extremes 

 there is usually some middle course which will produce the best results. 

 For the past three years the average amount of water used by the 

 farmers under the Big ditch, in Yellowstone County, has been 41 

 inches in depth over an area aggregating 18,000 acres. This includes 

 all losses of all kinds, but making a liberal allowance for waste there 

 would remain about 30 inches, or 10 inches in depth for each of three 

 irrigations. As to the proper time to irrigate, the first application 

 should be made before the crop begins to sutler. It is too late when 

 the plants show the effect of drought. As regards the proper time to 

 irrigate the second crop opinions differ, but it is a common practice in 

 Utah to irrigate just after taking off the first crop. The majority 

 claim that on the large farms of the Y^ellowstone Valley it is not prac- 

 ticable to remove a crop in the forenoon and spread water over the 

 surface the same da3\ These contend that so much time elapses 

 between the cutting of the alfalfa and the irrigation of the stubble 

 that the latter is badly injured and takes a long time to recover after 

 being watered. Those wdio hold this view prefer to applv the water 

 before the alfalfa crop is cut, allowing sufficient time for the drying- 

 out of the soil before cutting. 



Cot<l of irrigating a 40-acre alfalfa field. 



Interest on cost of preparing land, at 50 cents per acre $20 



Repairing and cleaning out laterals, at 25 cents per acre 10 



Cost of water used, at §1.50 per acre 60 



Cost of irrigating three times, at $1. 25 per acre 50 



Total HO 



Gross receipts from tliree cuttings, 6 tons at $5 per ton 1, 200 



Gross receijits, less cost of irrigation, <>n 40 acres 1,060 



