IRRIGATION OF FIELD CROPS. 21 7 



wetting should be given, and an acre foot is not too 

 much water to apply at this time in the arid region, 

 especially on sandy soil. Some people irrigate almost 

 continuously from the time the crop commences to 

 head until the grain begins to turn. The claim made 

 is that the pradlice checks the first stand and forces 

 the grain to root, stool and head more abundantly. 

 The only objedlion to such copious irrigation is that it 

 conduces to the smut or ergot evil. 



Barley. — Barley is an easy crop to raise, yet a 

 little disagreeable on account of its beards. It grows 

 quickly and matures early, and requires but half the 

 water for irrigation usually given to oats, and con- 

 siderably less than wheat. On an average it will pro- 

 duce many more bushels to the acre than will wheat, and 

 brings a better price. For the best success the land 

 should be plowed moderately deep in the fall, then pul- 

 verized thoroughly in the spring, and the seed put in 

 early with a drill. Spring plowing will do, but not 

 quite so well as fall plowing. Irrigation is quite essen- 

 tial while the grain is filling and during the early ripen- 

 ing period. One and a quarter bushels of seed on rich 

 land is a sufficiency to sow, and a good seed-bed is 

 quite as necessary as any irrigation that may be 

 given it. 



Black barley is said to have many advantages. It 

 yields more to the acre than any other barley. But 

 this is not its only good feature. It can be grown with 

 less irrigation than can wheat, other barley, or oats. 

 If sown early and watered plentifully until the first of 

 July it will then head out and yield a fair crop without 

 further irrigation. This has at least been our experi- 



