28 



THE IRRIGATION AGE. 



WHEAT AREA IN RUSSIA REDUCED. 



GREELEY POTATOES 



Reports from Russia are to the effect that the spring 

 wheat area has been cut down this year from 30 to 40 

 per cent, owing to the low prices and to the lack of 

 capital among the small farmers. It is believed that 

 the result will be to cut down the large production of 

 Russian wheat this year by many millions of bushels, 

 which may have some slight influence on prices. 



DETASSELLING CORN. 



v 



Experiments made at the Cornell, N Y., Experi- 

 ment Station show the beneficial effects of detassel- 

 ling corn. During four seasons the experiments were 

 conducted, and the results are announced as follows: 

 In 1890, the detasselling resulted in a gain over corn 

 not so treated of 50.6 per cent. ; in 1891, the gain was 

 very slight; in 1892, the gain was 21 per cent, and in 

 1893, the net gain was 19.3 per cent. 



THE COTTON CROP. 



The most valuable cotton crop ever produced in 

 the United States was that of 1890. The plantation 

 value of that year's crop given by the Department of 

 Agriculture was, in round numbers, three hundred 

 and fifty million dollars. Until 1890, the crop had 

 never reached four billion pounds of cotton in any 

 one season, but the output that year was 4,316,043,982 

 pounds, while that of 1891 was 4,506,575,984 pounds, 

 and that of 1892 was 3,352,658,458 pounds, worth at 

 the plantations $268,000,000. The area in cotton is 

 estimated at about 24,000,000 acres. The increase of 

 the cotton crop since 1870 may be seen by the fact 

 that the yield for that year was 2,020,693,736 pounds, 

 but its value at the plantation was $286,000,000, or 

 $18,000,000 more than the crop of 1892. 



HOW TO IRRIGATE TREES. 



The old Mexican method was to set the trees in a 

 ditch and run in water until the land was water- 

 logged, then when the sun baked it hard it opened in 

 wide cracks through which the moisture evaporated 

 from the roots, leaving them dry and sun-scorched. 

 The New Mexico Experimental College at Las Cru- 

 ces has been pursuing the plan usually followed in 

 California. This method is to open furrows and 

 cross furrows between the rows of trees thus sur- 

 rounding the trees on all sides by water furrows, into 

 which a small head of water is run slowly, so as to 

 give it time to sink to the roots, leaving the ground 

 directly around the tree dry and easy to keep free of 

 weeds. When the soil is dry enough, a cultivator is 

 run between and across the rows. 



Unless all signs fail Greeley farmers will this year 

 eclipse all former records of potato shipments. They 

 are just closing the biggest shipments ever made in 

 the history of the district, and are preparing to put in 

 a greater acreage than ever. From the Greeley dis- 

 trict, which includes Greeley, Evans, Windsor, 

 Eaton, Lucerne, Orr and Hotchkiss, 5,000 cars have 

 been sent. 



This report is noteworthy as not only does it repre- 

 sent the large volume of business done, but the quality 

 of the potatoes grown. For the first time since Colo- 

 rado potatoes have been shipped outside the state, 

 they have gone this year to Ohio. This is like carry- 

 ing coal to Newcastle, as Ohio potatoes used to be as 

 standard as No. 1 wheat. 



Greeley potatoes reach the market early in August, 

 and begin shipping out late in the same month. 



Greeley growers say that it was hard times that made 

 the reputation of their potatoes abroad. Two years 

 ago they raised a large crop, so large that they were 

 unable to find buyers at home, and so made attempt 

 to dispose of them elsewhere. This year has seen 

 them sold in Ohio, a surprise to Denver commission 

 men as it is to Greeley farmers. 



POTATO SCAB. 



A weak solution of corrosive sublimate (two and 

 one-fourth ounces dissolved in fifteen gallons of 

 water) will prevent potato scab if the seed potatoes 

 are immersed in it before planting. Do not plant 

 them in ground which has produced a scabby crop. 

 Corrosive sublimate, being a poison, should be han- 

 dled carefully, and care taken to plant all the pota- 

 toes treated. Use a wooden vessel, as metal is 

 quickly corroded. 



The Italian agriculturists demand a protective 

 duty. They especially desire a heavier duty on im- 

 ported wheat. After Russia, the United States and 

 Canada are the countries that import the greatest 

 amount of wheat into Italy. 



Sugar cane is mentioned by Strabo as known in 

 India as early as 325 B. C. It was then used in its 

 raw state, no method being known for extraction of 

 the sugar. 



The sweet potato is one of the most valuable crops 

 grown either for market or home consumption. They 

 are a cheap milk producer, and cattle are very fond 

 of them. 



The farmers of the Arkansas valley who have 

 grown sweet potatoes have no reason to complain. 

 An average yield under irrigation is 250 bushels to 

 the acre. 



