50 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
in a tentative sense, of course. In this desert I referred to in one 
particular case we raised eight hundred bushels of potatoes to the 
acre. I want to show to you that it is the most enticing thing in the 
world to see the water run down the irrigating furrows; that the 
farmer who irrigates is constantly enticed to the point of letting the 
water do the work, and instead of using the plow or the cultivator 
he turns the water down the rows and thinks that will raise his 
crops. Don’t you do it. 
I am impressed by the fact of the small amount of water it 
takes to irrigate, even in desert regions where irrigation is ab- 
solutely essential. When I came here last summer during the 
drouth I had just come from a climate where there was but five 
per cent. of water in the air, while here at the dryest time it had 
from twenty to eighty per cent.of moisture. Now, irrigation should 
only be applied to plants when they absolutely need it. For in- 
stance, in raising potatoes do not turn the water on as long as 
they are growing; let them wilt to show the need of it. I will insist 
that the thing to do before planting is to saturate the land. Getas 
much water on as you can. Aim to get the water in the ground 
first, then plow the ground and plant yourcrop. If it is potatoes, the 
moment the first sprouts appear above ground take the harrow and 
run it crosswise of the ground and tear up alJ the potatoes you can. 
It will, perhaps, pull up a few young potatoes, but that does not mat- 
ter. As soon as you see the rows plainly cultivate very carefully 
aud as deep as you can; Iam not an advocate of shallow cultiva- 
tion, unless it be under certain circumstances. Within a week after- 
wards, when the ordinary irrigator would put his water on the 
potato crop, don’t you put any water on; cultivate again very care- 
fully and harrow it crosswise of the row. Your neighbors will tell 
you your crop is ruined, but it will not be so. After about one 
* month is past, with a weekly careful cultivation, then take your 
plow and open out your rows, turn the water in at the head of those 
rows, but be very particular not to let the water touch the plant or 
they will scald. Open the furrow and turn the water in at the top of 
the furrow. I will tell you in time how to get that water distributed. 
Let it run till it reaches the end of the row, and let it saturate the 
land thoroughly. 
Now, the mistake my neighbors made was in trying to make 
the water raise the crop. As I said before, irrigation is the most 
enticing thing in the world. Then do not wait until the sun be- 
gins to bake the ground, but as soon as youturn the water off culti- 
vate very thoroughly. I raised the past year 800 bushels of po- 
tatoes to the acre, while my neighbors raised from 60 to 150, be- 
cause they tried to make the water raise the crop. How do you get 
the water on the land? It is a difficult thing to irrigate in Minne- 
sota. Irrigation is the most profitable when you can lead the water 
over the land by force of gravity. That cannot be done except ina 
few cases in Minnesota, from the fact that there is not sufficient fall 
to your streams, and they do not maintain the same stage of water 
atalltimes. They may be flooded early in the spring, and they may 
be practically dry the balance of the year, and especially so in the 
