THE QUESTION BOX. 



The Question Box shall be an " open parliament " for the discussion of the practical, every-day questions that perplex the 

 irrigation farmers. Questions will be answered by those men of long experience among our readers who are glad to give of their 

 knowledge for the common good. Further answers are solicited from any reader whose experience differs from that published 

 here. THE AGE reserves all rights of control of the department. 



Potato Cultivation. What kind of soil should they be 

 planted in? How often should they be irrigated and cultivated? 

 Is it better to have the ground level? J. F. M. 



In the spring of 1894 I erected a small irrigation 

 plant consisting of an eight-foot windmill attached to 

 two four-inch pumps and with this plant I irrigated 

 some seven acres of ground which I planted to pota- 

 toes. The yield was four hundred bushels of sweet 

 potatoes to the acre and three hundred and fifty of 

 Irish. The following is my method of planting and 

 cultivating: First I select ground as nearly level 

 as possible so as to have complete control of water 

 while irrigating. If the land is not level it should 

 be graded I now plow and prepare the ground, 

 plowing eight to ten inches deep, afterward thor- 

 oughly harrowing and pulverizing the ground. Being 

 now ready to plant, with a fourteen-inch stirring 

 plow, I run my furrows about three feet apart and as 

 deep as the plow will run. I fill the furrows with 

 water and as soon as the water sinks away, put in the 

 seed (which has been previously cut one or two eyes 

 to the piece), dropping one piece in a place, ten to 

 twelve inches apart in the row, covering the same by 

 leveling the ground enough to outline the rows. I 

 cultivate with a five-toothed cultivator, not being par- 

 ticular as to how many plants are covered up, as I 

 think the covering does them no harm at this stage 

 and protects them from the bugs, and at the same 

 time destroys all weed seed starting. Now with a 

 large single shovel plow, I run a furrow between 

 each two rows and in these furrows turn the water, 

 being very careful not to run it over the tops of the 

 rows, and leave the water run until it has soaked 

 to the roots of the potatoes. As soon after each irri- 

 gation as the ground will permit, I cultivate as before 

 with a five-toothed cultivator, keeping the ground 

 well stirred to prevent its baking. As to the amount 

 of water or number of times to irrigate a crop, we 

 must be governed by condition of soil and amount of 

 rainfall. It is very essential, and in fact, we might 

 say, the crop wholly depends on, having the ground 

 wet while the hot winds are blowing. As to the kind 

 of soil and sub-soil, I have a variety on my farm, 

 varying from a light, sandy loam to a stiff joint clay 

 (or hard pan). I have tried growing potatoes on 

 these various kinds of soil and find the sandy soil 

 with open, porous subsoil the best adapted to suc- 

 cessful potato growing. JOSEPH HUFFMAN, of Gar- 

 den City, Kan. 



When is Water Needed? -At what time should fruit trees 

 be irrigated? Does it depend on the season or the needs of the 

 trees? C. F. W. 



Irrigation is a science that requires the closest 

 study of plant life. I note that most of the articles 

 upon the time to irrigate trees are based upon the 

 season of the year. 



My eleven years' experience in irrigation in Cali- 

 fornia teaches me that one might as well fix the time 

 of year to feed and not to feed live stock. 



The nature and requirements of the tree, in a great 

 measure, fix the time to irrigate. 



Each variety of tree and vegetable has a particular 

 time when it wants water to do it the most good. To 

 illustrate, a walnut should be properly irrigated at 

 the time the young leaves are just bursting out, and 

 again just at the time the young nut is setting (and 

 bear in mind that the ground should always be kept 

 moist the year round for all trees and vines in all 

 frostless belts); and again, the orange should be 

 thoroughly irrigated at the time the young leaves of 

 the new growth are just putting forth and not yet 

 unfolded. 



If corn cannot have a good irrigation at the time 

 the silk appears, it is substantially wasting water by 

 irrigating two weeks thereafter, as far as the devel- 

 opment of the ear is concerned. 



A very close study of any one variety of tree for a 

 year or two will soon convince the irrigator that the 

 tree will follow the season and that water must follow 

 the requirements of the tree. C. P. DEYOE, Santa 

 Ana, California. 



Crops for Young Orchards. A. D. T. Please inform us 

 new beginners what hoed crops may be grown at a profit in a 

 young orchard. How about strawberries? May other roots than 

 potatoes be cultivated withoTit harm to the trees? 



Any kind of small fruits, such as raspberries, straw- 

 berries and blackberries. Onions will prove to be, 

 one of the most profitable crops when soil and cli- 

 mate are adapted They are very prolific, easily 

 kept and are always staple. ROBT. M. PRATT, 

 Wichita, Kan. 



Pumping from DeepWells.A. F. S., Nebraska -We have 

 some rich table lands, but they are high, and the swells vary from 

 100 to 200 feet and more. Would like to irrigate, if only a garden 

 spot. Can you give us the experience of those who have tried 

 deep-well pumping? Give depth of well, size of cylinder and 

 discharge pipe, power used, amount irrigated, and the success. 



Caroline Moran, of Weskau, Kan., has a 6-inch well 

 160 feet deep, which is many miles from either 

 river or creek, the average depth of water in the well 

 being twenty feet. The pump, which is operated by 

 a windmill, throws a stream two inches in diameter, 

 or about 300 gallons an hour. The water is used for 

 stock and domestic purposes. The cost of pump and 

 well was $250 Ed. Carter, also of Weskau, Kan., 

 irrigates an orchard from a 6-inch well 140 feet deep, 

 operated by a windmill; cost of plant, ""' 



Petroleum. California now ranks fourth among 

 the petroleum producing States. According to the 

 twelfth report of the State mineralogist, this industry 

 is assuming an increased importance, as at the present 

 time Ventura County has over 150 oil wells, Los 

 Angeles County 40, and Kern County 20. The re- 

 port deals with the various mineral resources of the 

 State at length, and those interested in the subject 

 may obtain a copy free upon application to the State 

 Mining Bureau, 24 Fourth St., San Francisco, Califor- 

 nia, by remitting ten cents to cover postage. 



