THE) SOIL AND WATER 



125 



In regions of deficient rainfall, the crop produced is, as a rule, 

 somewhat proportional to the water supply. S. Fortier 1 in 

 Montana made experiments with wheat grown in tanks. The 

 crop secured increased quite regularly with the amount of water 





I 



pig 33. Relation of rainfall for June, July and August to yield 

 of corn per acre. U. S. D. A. 



supplied. In California, he found that the natural rainfall, 4^ 

 inches during the growth of the wheat, produced straw, hut no 

 grain ; four inches of irrigation water produced at the rate of 10 

 bushels, and sixteen inches of water increased the yield to thirty- 

 eight bushels per acre. Even in humid climates, irrigation may 

 result in largely increased yields. 2 King 3 in Wisconsin grew 

 crops in barrels sunk level with the ground surrounded by the 

 same crop as was in the barrel. The soil was kept saturated with 

 water six inches above the bottom of the barrel. The crops pro- 

 duced far exceeded those produced in the surrounding field. 

 The water used equaled 24 inches. The yield of oats and barley 



1 Rep. Montana Exp. Sta., 192-3. 



2 King, Farmers' Bulletin No. 46. 



3 Rep. Wis. Exp. Sta., 1893. 



