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52 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
This is a very large subject, and it is something I cannot hope to 
impress upon your minds—what irrigation is—until you have experi- 
ence with it yourselves. Irrigation will make its way with you, but 
I do not think that people who have even a scanty rainfall will ap- 
preciate what irrigation is until they are made to. I thank you for 
your attention. (Applause.) 
DISCUSSION. 
Mr. Elliot: There is one question I would like to ask Mr. 
McGinnis. He states that he cultivates immediately after he 
irrigates. Do you give the soil time to partially dry before 
cultivation ? . 
Mr. McGinnis: We can open up a great many sides of the 
question depending on the kind of soil. If you have a soil 
without sand, it will pack if you plow it wet, and you can do 
nothing with it. 
Prest. Underwood: Just come up here Mr. McGinnis and 
take a chair; we are going to pump you. This is an important 
subject, the most important we have had, and we must find out 
all we can about it. 
Mr. McGinnis: As to the soil that can be irrigated: I would 
not recommend any one to irrigate soil that has not a portion of 
sand init. For irrigation the pure sand is the best land; it 
makes no difference if it is thin. The objection to irrigation is 
this: The rain drops fall here and there, and the rain does not 
appear to have that packing quality whi-h water has when put 
in a body on the land, and I only recommend irrigation on your 
black sandy loams and your more sandy soils. On heavy loam 
without sand in it I do not think it would succeed very well. A 
desert soil has never had the decaying vegetation, the humus. 
A desert soil is like ashes; you can kick it up like an ash bed. 
Our soils here are made of decayed vegetation, and such soils 
are not in the best condition to withstand baking. When you 
set out your small fruit select some sandy soil with considera- 
ble slope to it. 
Mr. Barrett: Would you consider irrigation adapted to pra- 
rie soil ? 
Mr. McGinnis: The prairie soil has considerable sand in it, 
except the Red River Valley. Yes, sir. 
Prof. Hays: What is your experience with cold water ? 
Mr. McGinnis; The water should be at a temperature of 60° 
to 70°. Do not make the mistake of applying ice cold water to 
your crops. 
Prof. Green: Suppose there is a high point; what is the 
cheapest way of making a reservoir on that land ? 
‘ 
