154 



THE IRRIGATION AGE. 



PROVE IRRIGATION DOES NOT HURT FRUIT 



IT is a generally widespread belief that irrigated 

 fruits are more liable to decay and possess less 

 flavor than non-irrigated fruits. Since this inferiority 

 is attributed to abnormally high percentages of 

 water and correspondingly low percentages of solid 

 matter, analyses were made of the content of dry 

 matter, sugar, acid and crude protein in various 

 fruits grown under these two systems, with a view 

 to testing the truth of these suppositions. It was 

 not presumed, however, that chemical analyses alone 

 could settle questions relating to quality in fruits. 



The material used in these analyses was not 

 obtained 1 from specially controlled plots ; all irri- 

 gated samples were grown in districts where cli- 

 mate and soil render irrigation imperative, all non- 

 irrigated samples in districts where the annual rain- 

 fall varies from 25 to 35 inches and where the soil 

 and topography of the country render irrigation 

 methods impracticable. The comparisons are there- 

 fore made between normal irrigated and normal 

 non-irrigated fruits. 



In the case of drupaceous fruits analysis shows 

 distinct differences in favor of non-irrigated fruits, 

 especially when the results are calculated on the 

 dry matter, but they are not considered sufficiently 

 large to seriously affect the taste, except in the case 

 of Italian and Petite prunes. 



In the case of apples the non-irrigated almost 

 invariably contain greater percentages of acid and 

 sugar, but the differences are small and practically 



disappear when calculated on the total dry matter. 

 Irrigated apples contain a smaller percentage of 

 solids insoluble in water, but in intensity and uni- 

 formity of color, and in percentage of waste, they 

 have somewhat the advantage over the non-irrigated. 



Of the small fruits, strawberries alone show 

 any marked difference in composition due to irriga- 

 tion. When irrigated they are decidedly inferior in 

 dry matter, sugar, acid and crude protein, and they 

 lose their freshness and keeping qualities much 

 earlier. In the case of blackberries and raspberries 

 irrigation results in an increased percentage of 

 sugar and a decreased percentage of acid when cal- 

 culated on the total dry matter, and is therefore a 

 distinct advantage in growing these fruits for mar- 

 keting in the desiccated condition. 



In general, it may be said that no marked dif- 

 ferences in food and market value of fruits can be 

 attributed to the effects of irrigation. 



TALK 3,400 MILES 



New York is now talking to San Francisco 

 3,400 miles by telephone. This is an achievement 

 that reflects credit upon the American Telephone & 

 Telegraph Company. It is an enduring monument 

 to Theodore N. Vail, president of the company, 

 and his co-workers in the Bell system. Such 

 achievements as this deal a rather hard blow at 

 arguments for government ownership of telephone 

 lines in this country. 



THE KLAUER FLUME 



Metal Flumes 



Headgates ^P^ Irrigation Pipe 



Siphons Road Culverts 



> Intake and Outlet Apron 



KLAUER MANUFACTURING CO. 



DUBUQUE, IOWA 



