PROFITS IN IRRIGATION FARMING 131 



Irrigated Farms Require Good Management. — Parms in irri- 

 gated sections require cultivation and good management as do 

 farms in humid regions. It lias been found that cultivation after 

 irrigation is very effective in conserving the soil moisture. Weed 

 control is another important consideration. The diversification 

 of crops on individual farms and in each irrigation section, and 

 the production of livestock, should be given careful attention — 

 not only to utilize labor effectively, but to help maintain 

 soil fertility. 



Many Irrigated Lands Need Drainage. — ^At first thought it 

 seems strange, especially to one unfamihar with irrigation condi- 

 tions, that irrigated lands should need drainage. Nevertheless, 

 some areas, either directly or indirectly, have been converted into 

 swamps by irrigation; other areas have become water-logged and 

 are xmproductive; still other irrigated lands have passed from a 

 state of high productivity to a condition fit only for wet pastures. 

 Often the result of over-irrigation is manifested in an accumulation 

 of alkali salts on or near the surface without any apparent wet 

 condition. Other areas not irrigated also require drainage. Deep 

 underdrainage is necessary and is the only possible means whereby 

 these lands may be reclaimed. 



Aside from the objects sought in di-aining any soil, the thorough 

 underdrainage of some of these irrigated lands has an important 

 additional object; and that is, to provide an outlet for the down- 

 ward moving water used to dissolve out the harmful alkali salts. 

 For irrigated areas, drains of clay or shale tile are the best. The 

 tile should be hard-burned, impervious, and free from foreign 

 ingredients so they can withstand the harmful action of the 

 alkali salts. 



Other Irrigation Problems. — ^Irrigation farming has many 

 features quite different from farming without irrigation. Aside 

 from the problem of water supply, application of water, and the 

 other problems aheady mentioned, there are many others that an 

 irrigation farmer must either solve for himself on have solved for 

 him. These problems relate to the best methods of irrigation 

 under particular conditions, to the economic use of water, to the 

 amount of water best for different crops, time best to apply water, 

 frequency of application, the maintenance of soil fertihty, etc. 

 Much information on these points is available, but lack of space 

 here prohibits finisher discussion. 



Profilts in Irrigation Farming. — It costs more to produce crops 



