158 IRRIGATION FARMING. 



other operation. Corn roots have the habit of growing 

 downward as well as branching. They are deep and 

 broad feeders, in consequence of which the soil must be 

 made loose and mellow to a considerable depth to secure 

 full development. Land for corn should be plowed to 

 an average depth of ten inches or more for this and 

 another very important reason. Those familiar with the 

 conditions of irrigation know with what rapidity a com- 

 pact soil loses moisture. Land should always be well 

 irrigated before plowing, if not sufficiently moist. As 

 irrigation restores the soil to its former compactness, it 

 should never be applied upon soils freshly plowed and 

 prepared for planting, unless required to germinate the 

 seed. There arc advantages claimed for spring plowing. 

 It enables the farmer to control moisture in making the 

 operations of irrigating, plowing and planting contin- 

 uous. Irrigating to germinate seed after planting should 

 never be practiced, as much of the seed becomes ruined, 

 and feeble growth takes place, which can seldom if ever 

 be overcome by cultivation. Usually two waterings are 

 sufficient during the growth of a crop, and often one 

 irrigation is preferable. If the soil contains sufficient 

 moisture in the spring to start the crop to a thrifty grow- 

 ing condition, and growth seems not to be retarded for 

 want of moisture, watering can be delayed until the tas- 

 sels begin to appear, at which time drouth would cause 

 great injury to the crop. 



The mistake is often made in the use of a large head 

 of water while irrigating corn and in attempting to get it 

 properly distributed over large areas and through long 

 rows. Much of the land thus watered becomes toe we^ 

 while other portions receive an insufficient supply. In 

 neither case can the best results be expected. Another 

 very serious objection to irrigating with a large head of 

 water is that the water generally contains much insoluble 

 earthy matter, which is ever being deposited as sediment. 



