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THE NATIONAL NURSERYMAN 
IRRIGATION IN MICHIGAN 
Experiments with irrigation on sand lands in the Muskegon 
district, carried on during the last few years, have proved that 
the use of water w’ill convert these soils into fruit and truck 
farms that are the equal of any horticultural lands in the 
country. 
The effect of these experiments will be momentous, in the 
opinion of those who have been seeking a way to reclaim the 
sand lands found along many parts of the Lake Michigan shore 
in Western Michigan. A development that will write a new 
chapter in the history of American agriculture is foreseen in this 
section, rivaling that which has taken place in the arid regions 
of the west and southwest. 
Western Michigan is recognized as the most important fruit 
country in the middlewest. A part of the soil has been regarded 
as unsuited for agriculture of any kind, however, and the dis¬ 
covery that irrigation will make it valuable as fruit growing 
land will double the acreage devoted to horticulture, in the 
opinion of persons who have studied this phase. 
That this reclamation cannot he brought about by waving 
a fairy wand is emphasized, however. Installation of overhead 
irrigation systems in Western Michigan costs at least $600 an 
acre, while the soil to be irrigated must be heavily fertilized if 
good results are to be obtained. Fertilization must be carried 
on every year, but the irrigation system, once installed, usually 
lasts for many years. The cost of operating the system is 
almost negligible, one gallon of gasoline furnishing sufficient 
power to water an entire two acre tract, the water being pumped 
from a depth of 18 feet. About 9,000 gallons of water is required 
to water a tract of this size each 24 hours. 
The profits from operating a small irrigated farm in West 
Michigan are comparatively high, according to local men who 
farm in this way. C. E. Randall, who placed two acres of his 
farm near here under irrigation last year is authority for the 
statement that he will be able to make a net profit of between 
$3,000 and $4,000 a year from the two acre parcel of land. The 
irrigation system permits him to raise three crops of garden 
truck each season, instead of one crop, as is the case on non- 
irrigated soil. Profits are derived, he says, because he is able 
to place tomatoes, cabbage, melons and other products on the 
markets a considerable time before growers on non-irrigated 
lands can offer their crops. Mr. Randall stresses the fact that 
one family could not possibly care for more than two or three 
acres of irrigated land, because of the immense amount of work 
involved. For six months in the year, however, the farmer on 
this type of land enjoys a complete vacation. William K. Firth, 
who for several years has farmed about three acres of irrigated 
land, spends each winter in Florida. 
Mr. Randall submitted figures to show that the cost of in¬ 
stalling an irrigation system runs about $600 to the acre, it 
having cost him slightly more than $1,200 to provide the water¬ 
ing device on his two acre tract. The cost of the materials, 
which included pipe, pipe posts, an engine, and a pump, was 
$1,129.05, while labor charges for installing added $85, making 
a total of $1,214.05. 
Water in the Muskegon district is easily available. The dis¬ 
trict is dotted with lakes and is a network of streams. Farms 
located some distance from the lakes and streams are not at 
a disadvantage, because water always is found at from 4 to 18 
feet below ground. Mr. Randall has three wells on his two 
acre tract and 18 feet is the longest distance he w'as obliged 
to drill. 
The farmer who tills irrigated soil must work 16 hours a day 
during the growing season if he wishes to succeed, Mr. Randall 
has learned. Watering begins each evening about six o’clock. 
The gasoline engine on the Randall farm has a pressure of 50 
pounds, pumping 3,000 gallons of water an hour. Three hours 
time is required to water the two acres, one acre being irri¬ 
gated at a time. 
The overhead type of irrigation is used exclusively in this 
section. The pipes w'hich carry the water are mounted on posts 
eight feet above the ground. The pipe lines are 50 feet apart 
and the pipes can be turned to spray on either side. Ditch irri¬ 
gation, such as is employed in the west and southwest, is im¬ 
possible in this section because of lightness of the soil. 
Glenn M. Porter, of Muskegon, chairman of the Agricultural 
Committee of the Greater Muskegon Chamber of Commerce, 
has conducted much of the research work in irrigation that has 
been carried on here in recent years. Mr. Porter has an irri¬ 
gation experimental station on his farm near this city and has 
made many valuable discoveries. He has proved that irrigation 
is a guarantee against frost during the spring and autumn, and 
following his suggestions, many growers have saved their crops 
when threatened by cold. The wmter snraying over the plants 
forms a blanket that keeps out the cold. 
“Our experiments have proved that light sandy soil can be 
made highly productive by the use of fertilizer and water,’’ Mr. 
Porter said. “With the growth of our industrial centers in the 
middle west the demand for fresh fruits and vegetables during 
the entire growing season has increased remarkably. This pro¬ 
vides a special line of farming as important as the raising of 
general crops. 
“Among the most notable discoveries made here in recent 
years are that fruits grown on irrigated lands mature much 
earlier than those on dry lands, that production is from five to 
ten times greater, and that the products of the watered soil 
are far superior to those raised on non-irrigated acres. Fruit 
grown on non-irrigated sandy soil is seedy and lacking in flavor 
in dry seasons. Those grown on adjoining lands that are irri¬ 
gated are large and luscious. From 130 to 160 black raspberries 
grown on non-irrigated lands are required to fill a quart box, 
while only 60 to 70 similar berries from irrigated soil fills a con¬ 
tainer of like size.’’ 
Raspberries, strawberries, and other small fruits have been 
found to produce excellently on Muskegon county irrigated soil. 
Many local growers are devoting considerable acreage to the 
ever bearing strawberry, which does exceedingly well here when 
supplied with sufficient moisture at the right time. 
The irrigation of farm lands east of the Mississippi is not 
an innovation, the farmers of Connecticut having adopted the 
plan years ago. From the Connecticut irrigated farms comes 
a large part of the produce that supplies the markets of the 
New York metropolitan district. 
The Connecticut farmers produce two crops a year by means 
of irrigation, growing each crop at the same time. Cabbage 
is one of the chief crops and while the cabbage is young a crop 
of some other vegetable is produced between the cabbage rows. 
The second vegetable has been harvested before the cabbage 
needs room in which to head. 
One of the factors that is of great assistance to Muskegon 
county horticulturists and truck growers is the splendid market¬ 
ing facilities. Paved highways lead into Muskegon from vir¬ 
tually every part of the country, while the remaining roads are 
hard gravel. The Greater Muskegon industrial community com¬ 
prises a population of about 55,000, and these persons are buy¬ 
ers of Muskegon county produce. Chicago’s millions are but 
one night away by steamer, goods placed aboard vessels here in 
the evening being delivered in the loop district early the follow¬ 
ing morning. Daily service across Lake Michigan to Milwaukee 
also is afforded. 
This center is linked with other consuming localities by three 
large railroad systems. There also is an electric interurban 
line to Grand Rapids, which is only 45 miles away. The Grand 
Rapids community also may be reached easily over either of 
two paved highways. The ease with which Muskegon growers 
can market their produce and fruits within from 12 to 24 hours 
after they are gathered has played an important part in develop¬ 
ing horticulture and agriculture here. 
Farmers in this vicinity rapidly are adopting the irrigation 
idea. At this time there are a number of irrigated farms, but 
the percentage is small compared with the total number of 
tracts under cultivation. Mr. Porter expresses the belief that 
within five years the number of irrigated farms will have 
doubled, at least. 
THL PACIFIC COAST NUBSERYMEN 
The Paeilie Coast nursery men are drawing closer to¬ 
gether and co-operating to prevent waste in the form of 
lu'ush piles with the attendant evils of price cutting and 
business failures. 
C. A. Tonneson, secretary of the Pacific Coast Associa¬ 
tion of Nurserymen, says; 
“In the matter of fruit stocks, nurseries on the Pacific 
Coast are reducing to conform to less demand on the 
pari of commercial fruit growers until marketing condi¬ 
tions for fruits are improved. 
‘The business in ornamental stock lines is about all 
that can be desired. The clean-up in that line will he 
very good. There is a growing demand for lining out 
stock and for shapely materials ready for planters. 
“Nurserymen all over the Pacific Coast are reducing 
|)lants for trei's to Ix' sold season 1924-25 on an average 
of about 35% as compared with last year. The nurser- 
