CHAPTER XIII 

 IRRIGATION OF CEREALS 



WHEN land is brought under irrigation, the small 

 grains form the first of the staple crops. This follows from 

 the nature of the cereals. They furnish breadstuffs to 

 man, and their by-products are excellent concentrated 

 foods for farm animals. A ready market always awaits 

 the small grains, and they bring, therefore, sure and quick 

 returns to the farmer who is just beginning the conquest 

 of an irrigated farm. The small grains mature at the time 

 of large water supply, and for that reason, need less atten- 

 tion during the drier period of the growing season. Land 

 is easily prepared for small grains and the cultural opera- 

 tions are simple. After more profitable crops have been 

 established under the irrigation system, the small grains 

 fit well into the rotations necessary for the maintenance 

 of soil fertility. Finally, small grains may be grown with 

 limited capital, which is all-important to the average new 

 settler. 



In the beginning of irrigation in the United States, 

 the small grains formed the bulk of the crops that were 

 raised. Extensive grain-growing under irrigation is, 

 however, gradually ceasing, because special crops, such 

 as sugar beets and fruits, yield larger acre returns than 

 the grains, and, moreover, because it has been shown that 

 the small grains are particularly well adapted for growth 

 under dry-farming methods on the non-irrigated lands. 

 Then, the increasing demand by millers for hard wheats 



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