IRRIGATION 



3066 



IRVING 



being made to revive their old fertility by the 

 construction of modern systems. Italy, Spain, 

 France, Australia, Russian Asia, Mexico, China, 

 Formosa and Java have large areas under irri- 

 gation. Argentina has planned one irrigation 

 system which will cost as much as the total of 

 the half dozen largest projects in the United 

 States, and seven times as much as the Bas- 

 sano system. 



Results of Irrigation. Every year many 

 settlers are attracted to irrigated farms in the 

 West by the hope of large profits. Their 

 enthusiasm gives rise to land speculation, and 

 prices for farms in irrigation districts some- 

 times reach several hundred dollars an acre. 

 The following figures, based on the United 

 States Census of 1910, give some indication 

 of what prices in most instances really should 

 be. The table concerns the most profitable 

 crops commonly raised on irrigated land : 



The average value of all irrigated crops 

 except fruits and vegetables was $25.08 an acre, 

 $7.54 more than for unirrigated crops. But this 

 is nearly offset by additional cost of $7.26 for 

 water, cost of maintenance and interest on the 

 cost of irrigation works. It is to be concluded, 

 then, that except in unusual circumstances irri- 

 gated land in the West should cost about the 

 same as unirrigated land farther East. 



Suppose a farmer pays $50 an acre for an 

 irrigated farm. The average yield will be 

 $25.08, less $7.26, or $17.82 an acre. Interest 

 at eight per cent on the $50 is $4, but $2.55 

 of this has already been deducted in the census 

 figures. If we deduct the balance, $1.45, the 

 yield per acre becomes $16.37. From a forty- 

 acre irrigation plot the average farmer would 

 therefore receive $654.80 for his own labor, that 

 of his family and any additional help. More 

 valuable crops usually require additional labor 

 and expenditure. 



One fact, however, must stand out distinctly 

 in comparing results from irrigated lands and 

 from those not irrigated. In the latter instance 

 good crops may be secured regularly for several 

 years, after which there may be a season with- 

 out rainfall, when crops are almost entirely 

 lost. Every farmer in unirrigated territory 



dreads this possibility. On the contrary, a dry, 

 devastating season never is feared on an irri- 

 gated farm. Water in abundance is always 

 assured, and loss of crops from dryness is im- 

 possible. 



In some arid regions special crops can be 

 raised where unirrigated lands cannot compete. 

 Dates, figs, olives, English walnuts and 

 Egyptian cotton, for instance, are well suited 

 to parts of the Southwest, and their produc- 

 tion is certain to become important. Much 

 of the Canadian irrigation is in connection with 

 cattle rasing. 



Dangers of Irrigation. Agricultural experts 

 express some fear that land constantly irrigated 

 will lose its productivity. The principal diffi- 

 culty is from the accumulation of alkali which 

 gradually takes place, appearing first in the 

 lowest parts of the fields. Other causes of 

 lessened crop yields are not yet well under- 

 stood. C.H.H. 



Consult Newell and Murphy's Principles of Irri- 

 gation Engineering ; Dennis's Reports on Irriga- 

 tion and Canadian Irrigation Surveys; Long's 

 Irrigation Law. 



Related Subjects. The reader is referred to 

 the following articles in these volumes : 

 Archimedean Screw Canada, subtitle 



Arizona Agriculture 



Assuan Idaho 



California 



IRVING, SIR HENRY (1838-1905), an Eng- 

 lish actor who by virtue of untiring industry 

 and study and determined adherence to the 

 highest ideals of his art became the foremost 

 man of the English stage of his day. Possess- 

 ing in a high de- 

 gree the artistic 

 temperament, he 

 strove to make 

 the stage a potent 

 educational 

 agency. His 

 repertoire in- 

 cluded the mas- 

 terpieces of 

 dramatic litera- 

 ture, which he 

 presented with 

 strictest reference 

 to historical truth, 

 both as to COS- HENRY IRVING 



turning and time. He was born at Somerset 

 His real name was JOHN HENRY BRODRIBB; 

 chose Irving as his stage name, which 

 legalized by royal license. He was knight 

 in 1895 by King Edward VII. 



