70 



THE IRRIGATION AGE. 



of these requirements will vary with the locality and with 

 different and changing conditions in each locality, so 

 that the beneficial use of water is variable. 



ECONOMICAL USE OF WATER Since the water 

 supply available for irrigation in the western states is ade- 

 quate for only a relatively small percentage of the entire 

 irrigable acreage, the fundamental standard of economical 

 use must be the financial results accomplished per acre- 

 foot of water applied rather than the yield per acre irri- 

 gated. It, therefore, becomes both necessary and desir- 

 able to impress irrigators with the fact that in general the 

 largest net profits per acre-foot of water applied are ob- 

 tained, not from using excessive quantities, but from more 

 careful use of relatively small quantities. In developing 

 a more economical standard for the use of water, it should 

 not be presumed that established rights can be limited 

 to less water than they would carry under the accepted 

 rule of beneficial use; yet by constantly bearing in mind 

 that the ideal ultimately necessary must be the highest 

 net profit per unit of water applied, irrigators may grad- 

 ually be induced in many instances to obtain for them- 

 selves those results, and those undertaking the constru- 

 tion of new projects may be induced to so design their 

 systems as to provide a liberal water supply during the 

 development period with a view to ultimate development 

 based on economic use. 



In the history of irrigation in this country, there has 

 been evident a gradual but very definite evolution in the 

 ideas of what constitutes proper use of water. While the 

 use of water for irrigation was at first a relatively unim- 

 portant one, its importance now overshadows all other 

 uses, save that of domestic supply. In the course of this 

 evolution, the doctrine of beneficial use has become estab- 

 lished, but in future development this doctrine must in 

 many cases merge into, or be supplemented by that of 

 economic use. The doctrine of beneficial use looks to in- 

 dividual interest; that of economic use to the general wel- 

 fare of society as a whole. So far as possible, water 

 charges, systems of distribution, and regulations should 

 be so adjusted as to make the interest of the individual 

 water user coincide with this public interest. 



Professor F. K. Knorr, in charge of 

 Practical the demonstration farm on the North 



Suggestions Platte project in Nebraska, is fur- 

 To nishing helpful hints to irrigators 

 Irrigators which will prove valuable to farm- 

 ers on any project. He states that 

 it is a common fallacy among farmers that grains 

 should well shade the ground before the first irri- 

 gation is attempted, in order to prevent baking of 

 the soil. His experience and experiments have 

 shown that whenever the soil shows that it is get- 

 ting dry, the crop should be irrigated, regardless of 

 its stage of growth. When soil will not adhere in 

 a lump when pressed in the hand, irrigation should 

 be applied. 



Professor Knorr says further, that barley 

 should never be allowed to get dry, as it is a crop 

 which shows the effect of drouth more quickly and 

 has less power to recover, than any of the small 

 grains ; it should, therefore, be carefully watched 

 for indications of lack of moisture. A few men 

 like Professor Knorr scattered over the various 

 Federal and Carey Act projects, would do much 

 toward leading farmers in the right direction, and 

 their suggestions would eventually prove of in- 

 calculable benefit to the West at large. 



Owing to the crowded condition of 

 Graves' our reading columns in the Decem- 



Article her number, it was found necessary 



On to omit the article on Federal For- 



Forestry estry by Henry S. Graves, forester 



in charge of the federal forest serv- 

 ice. This article is being given space in this issue 

 and should be read by all who are interested in this 

 important subject. 



In this issue will be found an article 

 Alfalfa by Dr. Allison Smith of Saskatche- 



In wan, on alfalfa culture in that north- 



Southern west country. Dr. Smith gives 



Saskatchewan many important facts concerning 



this well known stock food product, 

 how to sow the seed, and other facts that cover 

 the subjects of how to get a good strong growth, 

 points about the nurse crop and inoculation, all of 

 which is instructive and interesting. 



An Arizona exchange recently con- 

 Why tained an article with the heading 

 Not "Why Not a Creamery?" in which 

 A it is stated that the Florence-Casa 

 Creamery? Grande Valley in that state is placed 

 in the peculiar position of having 

 every condition favorable for a creamery and but- 

 ter factory, while practically every pound of but- 

 ter consumed in that district which amounts to 

 many tons each year is imported. This necessi- 

 tates the expenditure of thousands of dollars that 

 could otherwise be kept at home. 



This money finds its way to the pockets of 

 outside manufacturers and dairymen of the central 

 states. 



Another feature that should be considered by 

 these people is that of freight rates, which brings 

 the price much higher than is paid in states nearer 

 the dairy centers. 



In this section of Arizona alfalfa, a wonder- 

 fully good dairy food, is raised in abundance, and 

 under the new federal system of irrigation, good 

 water is furnished in abundance ; thus these people 

 are ignoring two prime requisites to the successful 

 development of an industry which would not only 

 do away with the necessity of sending money away 

 for dairy products, but if properly developed, would 

 turn the tide of money in their direction, as there 

 is a fine market for this class of goods in the great 

 mining sections of Arizona, New Mexico and Cali- 

 fornia. 



This same lesson applies as forcibly to a hun- 

 dred other sections throughout the irrigated West. 

 Why not a creamery? and thereby bring money into 

 your section, rather than send it away for food 

 products which may be produced at a much less 

 cost, near home. 



