DRY FARMING CONGRESS. 



61 



in order to store up a supply of moisture in the soil for future use. A 

 deep, retentive soil forms one of the best natural reservoirs. 



Winter irrigation as practiced in the Santa Clara Vallc}'-, California, 

 may serve as an example. In 1898 the rainfall was only one-half of the 

 normal. Instead of 16 inches the precipitation was 8 inches. The year 

 previous was likewise one of scanty water supply. These two dry years 

 coming in succession and followed by others of medium rainfall compelled 

 the orchardists to irrigate, and since that time they have continued the 

 practice. Investigations made there by our office in 1904 showed that 

 one ditch supplied water to 1,241 acres from February 27 to April 23. That 

 is their irrigation season. It is the only time they could irrigate. During 

 these 56 days in winter and early spring the land was flooded to a depth 

 of 19 inches — 19 inches in depth over the entire surface irrigated. Another 

 ditch covered 3,000 acres to a depth of 21 inches from February 12 to 

 April 23. Still another covered 900 acres to a depth of ' 40 inches during 

 the earl}^ spring months. The average cost of this water to the irrigators 

 under these three ditches was $4.66 per acre. This water which averaged 

 nearl}' 27 inches in depth was applied at a time when the orchard soil 

 was wet from rains, when the trees did not particularly need irrigation, but 

 for the purpose of storing sufficient moisture in the soil to nourish the 

 trees during the warm, dry months of summer. 



This is not the only case where I have made inquiry into winter irri- 

 gation. I remember a few years ago I took a trip up into Oregon, in the 

 region just beyond Umatilla, in Butter Creek valley. I stayed over night 

 with a man b}^ the name of ]\Ir. Thompson, who had practiced winter 

 irrigation for about twenty years. He had a splendid orchard of deciduous 

 trees. Mind you, this Butter Creek contains no water in summer, and 

 Mr. Thompson and his associates in that valley had to apply the water 

 in winter, when it was in the creek. But the soil was so retentive — 

 they had about ten feet of good soil — that they were enabled to raise three 

 good crops of alfalfa under winter irrigation. But it was rough irrigation. 

 The}' did not pay any attention to the ditches, and they paid less attention 

 to the application of the water over the surface. They just opened the 

 flood-gate and turned it on, and Mr. Thompson told me that they averaged. 

 I think, about three feet over the surface. But that thorough soaking 

 in the early spring months stored sufficient water in their deep retentive 

 soil to produce three crops of alfalfa, and to nourish those trees. 



Now, when I was up in Dillon, ]\Iontana, I spent some time with 

 Mr. J. E. Morse in looking over his reservoir. Mr. Morse is not content in 

 using the creek water during the few months of the summer. He has built a 

 large string of reservoirs in the mountain and in addition to that if any 

 water is found in the creek when these reservoirs are full he turns it 

 loose on his land in winter irrigation. I saw there a crop without winter 

 irrigation and one with it. and there was a marked difference. I wish some 

 time you would get Mr. Morse down here at this convention to tell you 

 about his success in winter irrigation. 



