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About The Oregon statesman. (Salem, Or.) 1916-1980 | View Entire Issue (May 21, 1925)
THE OREGON STATESMAN, SALEM. OREGON THURSDAY MORNING, MAY 21, 1C23 1NDU GON 1 mm PRODUCE LITlf ORE QUA i I i 1 -jity - - . This cut is used by courtesy of th ' Associated Industries, of Oregon. Dates of Slogans in Daily Statesman (In TwIce-a-Week Statesman Following Day) (With a few possible changes) Loganberries, October 2 Prai.es, October t Dairying. October 16 Flax, October 23 " ' m Filberts, October 30 v Walnuts, November S . . Strawberries, November 13 Anples, November 20 Raspberries, November 27 Mint, December 4 Great Cows, Etc., December 11 "Blackberries,, December 18 Cherries, December 25 Pears,' January 1, 1925 -. Gooseberries, January 8 Corn, January 15 . Celery; January 22 Spinach. Etc., January 29 , ; . Onions, Etc., February 5 Potatoes, Etc., February 12 Bees, February 19 Poultry and'Pet Stock, Feb. 26 City Beautiful, etc., March 5. Beans. Etc., March 12 Pared Highways. Mrch 19 J Head Lettuce, March 26 Silos. EtcMpril 2 - Legumes, April 9 Asparagus, Etc., April 16 , Grapes. Etc.,, April 23 ? Drug Garden, April 30 SUPPLEMENTAL IRRIGATIOn FORTHE 'WiLLAMETTEVALLEi;PRDF. POWEBS Costf a Small Pumping Plant When and on What Kind of Land and for What Crops if Will Pay to Pump Water i Half a Million Acres in the Valley Will Give Large Returns for Proper Supplemental Irrigation It Is Needed Where Rains Are Needed and Fail to Come (Tins following is Station Cir tular 57 of the Oregon Agricul tural " college, issued in August, 1924, under the title of "SuDDle- ymental Irrigation for the Willam,- J ette Valley." by Prof, W. L. j Power?, chief of the ; department of soils;" in full excepting for a cut of a gasoline pumping plant " and of a furrow irrigation of po- J tatoes:) V ." f r., ; U ; . .. - ' f r : I Frequent recurrence of periods f-drouth during the late Rummer f ha tlcre!opel consfderable in4 teret iir the possibility of supple meatal irrigation in tlie Willani Ottp vallev. . In 19flT tho nffico nf t liirjgaiioii investigations, United J States department of agriculture,! ' began some irrigation tests at J , Conrallis and other points, to de , , terming the ; value of irrigation "water as a supplemental to ;., the limited summer' rainfall, as a means f of -Increasing production and profit, particularly ;with the more intensive agriculture that was beginning to take the place of grain grdwing. r.: Increases Jn yield of representative field crops ran ged from 27 per cent to 186 per" cent, indicating that supple mentary irrigation wisely ; used with most late season crops would prove'proritable on the naturally drained, free working soils of the 'Xllcy where accessible to water. In 1910 the experiments were titeade'l to include soil moisture investigation; , water variation j.Jriaia, or duty-of-water experi rnents to determine how much ir rigation would be needed; also to develop practices 'for- securing highest efficiency and the greatest nt profit from the pumped water. Water requirement studies were added and also observations of the effects of irrigation on soils and crop? 1 - Soils best suited to supplemen tal irrigation in the Willamette valley are those : that are free working, without being too heavy or sticky on the one hand or too coarse and sieve-like on the other hand". Thi sandy loam soils oocur L; ring? along the i Willamette and other stream bottoms, or soils be longing to the Newberg and Che balia series, and the lighter types of soils on the valley floor, such as Willamette ; loam or silt loamt are suitable for. irrigation. Soil surveys of two-thirds or this valley indicate that perhaps Jhalf a mil Honfe acres, or, about one-sixth of tha improved! land in the valley will give good response to supple mental Irrigation. -' f f J Copa found j. to give best res ponse to supplemental irrigation lJier.e.are the truck crops, the crops J ""grown for intensive dairying, such ns late , summer pasture and late I cuttings' of legume crops, or row crops that ' make their maximum growth late in the season, such as roots and corn." Potatoes and I Mans.nro cash crops. which give large returns from irrigation and arc , likely to pay for proper irrigation..- ; ;''";; - :" ' "':':. ' Advantages of supplemental ir rigation. The chief advantages of fiurrlcmental irrigation for free worUas, r.uturally, drained .WU1- : - v !. Sugar Beets, Sorghum.. Eti May 7 j i Water Powers, May" 14 Irrigation. May 21- j Mining. May 28 : Land. Irrigation. Etc., June 4 Floriculture, June 11 ; Hops, Cabbage, Etc.. June 18 Wholesaling and Jobbing, June 25 Cucumbers, Etc., July 2 i , Hogs, July 9 . -; Goats) July 16. ; : Schools, Etc.. July 23 Sheep. July 30 ; National Advertising. August 6 Seeds. Etc., August 13 Livestock. August 20 Grain and Grain Products, Au gust 27. - ! . Manufacturing, September 3. Automotive Industries, Septem ber 10, : Woodworking. Etc.. Sept. 17 ! Papfc." Mills, Etc. Sept. 24.. - (Back ccplej of the Thursday editions of - The Daily Oregon Statesman are i. n hand-. They are for sale at 10 cents each mailed to any address.' Current copies 5c.) r f amette ralleys- ' soils, are '.as follows: ; (1 ) Irrigation controls soils moisture, overcomes drouth; (2) provides' green pasture an! green feed late in the summer; (3) saves the 'clover stand and makes a cutting the 'first season; (4) makes double cropping possible- late crops after early crops; (5) aids the beneficial bacterial and chemical atiTjti.es in soil ; f6) aids control of crop pests and diseases;', (7) increases efficiency of soil moisture -during the best growing weather; (S) is an aid to deep or early plowing and in tensive cropping: i ( 9 softens clods and dissolves! plant foods; (10) proper irrigation pays in' in creased yields, net profits, and productive values, j "j.: :; ' For supplemental! Irrigation to be highly profitable in the Willam ette valley it must be used on the naturally f drained, free working Boils and ' applied ' to crops that respond to late season irrigation and that are of good valule. The greatest profit is secured where water Is efficiently; : used; The experiment statfon has sought to determine the Iminimum amount of water which, together with the best- time and manner of use and cultivation, would vield ci-ods of t . . , . - . . nignest vaiues ana greaiesi re turns upon . the land and water employed. If the Increase from irrigation is sufficient to pay for water when pumped a moderate lift and applied to staple field crops It would certainly pay to use gravlcy irrigation on the more Intensive crops. The . station ex periments hare been : conducted with water pumped, from creek and discharged at a level 20 feet! above the creek for, use upon Wil lamette sllty loam;, with, staple field crops. -J' -'j "-. ' Water supply. The water avail able for irrigation ; In this valley Is of good quality and a suitable supply will be foupd In. the "un derflow," which occurs Iff the gravel substratum nnderthe river bottom soils, or along the bottoms of other large streams. Water can also be pumped for Irrigation from perennial streams entering the valley from the foothills. Some irrigable lands, "are suitable so that these waters can be 'applied r by gravity.. In the old valley fill ing, or valley floor above the first bottom, it is not probable that wells of moderate depth will de velop sufficient T water to giv a continuous supply tor centrifugal pumps in volumes sufficient for field use.- ' ;v ; ' ' : ' of-t of A Small I'ampins I'Ij n t The cost of installing a small pumping plant Includes the fol lowing items of expense; (ay First cost- engine, pump, flume, or pipes, aud in some cases a well and shelter tor machinery. (bj Operating expense labor, fuel, and lubricating oil. ; y. " (c) Malntetrance charges in terest on the first cost, deprecia tion, and repairs, j , V,:: (d) Total annual cost "'(bi operating expense' and "(c) main tenance charges.- The coat of pumped water in 'OREGON QUALITY" products are establishing themselves in world markets; they make our pay rolls they build our cities; they attract new capital and new people; they provide a market for the products of our farms. Oregon farms produce a wider variety of profitable crops of "Oregon Quality" food than any other spot on earth. ; t ;! crease, with the amount; of lift and is frequently expressed fn cost per acre foot per foot of lift. The pumping plant employed jb) the experiment station Is not operated to half its capacity, yet maximum charges have been used In ralcula tionThe total -annual cost runs 58 cents per acre fool per foot or lift. This is a total Icost. of a dollar ner; acre inch delivered at a 20 foot level. With a well designed pumping plant and a mo- aerate art,., operating early to capacity, the cost should run from 15 to 40 cents per acre foot. The maximum figure of a dollar pel- acre inch,; however, has been used in calculating the profits from Ir rigation on the experiment station. The largest single item of ex pense is usually the motor or en- gins. The majority of farms are now equipped; with some- power machinery, which may be used to drive the irrigation pump.! Where water can be pumped "from a stream a moderate' sized j centri fugal pump, piping, and valves should cost from $150 to $300. The first cost of a pumping plant Is frequently $25 per acre. Wells. A dug well Is pot Suit able for a water j supply for con tinuous pumping with at centri fugal pump. In the river-bottom lands an open pit may be dug to the water-level and then a driven cased well put. down, perhaps 30 feet below the 'water plane. The last 12 or IS feet of this casing should be thoroughly perforated, or a strainer dropped in and the casing lacked, up to expose the strainer to the water-bearing sand and gravel. The pump should set within 10 feet of the water-table, which is lowered a little In the vicinlty of thewell casing during pumping. Where necessary, large radius bends and suction; and dis charge pipes should be used. These pipes , should be about one-third larger5- in diameter than the pump itself in order to lessen! friction. It is necessary! to provide a prim ing device for removing the air from a centrifugal pump. A check valve and straight-way j ground gate valve should be provided in the discharge pipe' Immediately above the pump. , Every foot of lift represents ad ditional cash outlay. v The water should not be pumped with an imposing splash or fall above the necessary level for commanding tae field to be irrigated. The water can be conveyed to the high part of the land by means oi pipes" directly connected with the discharge side of the pump. Black tin or water-tight concrete can be used for distribution pipe. If built on a slight grade, wood; flumes can be used to carry the water by gravity from the point of dis charge. '" -' ! . ' . Pumps. The simple, horizontal, centrifugal pump will be suitable for most purposes in this valley. Any good standard make will sup ply the, water needed. : The num ber of.a centrifugal pump refers to the, inside diameter of Inlet and outlet openings. A number four; - or four-Inch centrifugal pumpS will discharge aboout a cubic foot per second or 450 gal lons of water per minute. One cubic foot of-water each second will amount to one inch deep over an acre in one hour, and Is called an acre inch. , ; ; Motive power. An electric motor with direct connection with the pump is a most satisfactory source of ; power as it avoids In bolting and requires minimum at tention. Any difference i in cost between the use of distillate and electricity "as a" surce of energy is more tjian made up by 1 the sav ing in attendance where the elec tric power can be employed. In fact, the saving in the labor may often amount to more than the total fuel bill' wltfr the electric Plant. :V . . . - ' : j . . . 'Amount of water and power re quired. The average depth of water applied per season to field crops during the past fifteen years at the experiment station has been 6 inches . per . acre. This is the net amount applied to Willamette silty clay loam and it ranges from 4 to 5 Inches for row crops to 8 to 12 inches for meadow, crops. More water will be required for sandy soils. The amount will vary somewhat with the yield of dry matter and methods of Irrigation practiced."" The quantityof water required for alfalfa or clover Is not likely to be less than 5 or C acres Inches (equivalent too ii or & inches rainfall) for each ton or increase secured by irrigation. In the station experiments each inch i of water has made ,a&out 33 1 bushels more potatoes or 5 bushels more white beans. The minimum depth that it la ; feasible to apply to row crops la PRODUCTS one Irrigation is usually 2 to 3 inehes. Meadow crops will usual ly require 4 to 6 inches at each application. The pump capacity should be; sufficient to cover the area served every 3 to 4 weeks. An irrigating stream of less than 225 gallons per minute, or a half a cubic foot per second, Is not economical from a labor stand point. ' It may be advisable to provide a small reservoir with a Ismail pumping plant, especially j for truck crops, so that some water- will be ' available at any hour without pumping; or to enable more continuous operation by storing at night to provide a larger irrigation: stream by day. Calculation of power required. One horse-power will lift, a cubic foot of water 8.8 feet per second and is called a water horse-power. To apparent vertical lift must be added thet friction head for the length of pipe used for proposed discharge; also the friction due to bends into suction and dis charge pipes. ; The friction value for pipes can be obtained "from tab'es. Suppose the total head is found to be. 26.4 feet, and 1 cubic foot per second is to be elevated continuously; by .dividing 26.4 feet by the factor 8.8 it is found that three water horsepower would be reouired to operate this plant. Therefore, making the ordinary allowance for efficiency of ma chinery at ' 50 per cent, 6 horse power should be provided. Priming, and . operation. pitcher pump connected by small gas : pipe ' to the top -of the cen trifueal pump -is a suitable means for removing the air in priming. This pipe. must be provided with an air-tight valve to close It up tightly after priming. All pipe connections should be flanged and gapketed so that they fit air tight,; Centrifugal pumps are de signed for different lifts and for every, given lift there is an 'ecoiy omic speed. When ordering j a pnmp to go with an engine al ready, on hand or vice versa, give diameter of pulley and . revolu tions per minute, so that the pump will run to the rated economic' speed. Flexible couplings should be provided between the puiop motor in a direct-connected unit Where water is secured f rbm an open ietream a screen should ' be provided; in the intake cbantwsl The pump should be set. In. a con crete base, carefully leveled I by supporting nuts placed on the an chor : bolts. When true to 'level, - - - ' i ; rich cement should be run in around these bolts and the pump bolted down by means of other nuts run on from above the pump base. j" ; ' , j i- Economioal use ' of pumped water necessary Careful use of pumped water is necessary If the greatest profit is too be realized. Excessive usje of water may in jure the quality of soil and j crops to the point of unprofitable ' pro duction; even In arid climates. The water, therefore, should be carefully measured and skillfully. applied. The land should be level ed to a uniform slope and laterals should be as near water-tight as practicable. Frequently It Is desir able to use underground cooncrete or wood pipe for laterals. o dis tribute water hydants along this pipe, portable canvas or slip-Joint, black,' tin pipe may be used. - f Small furrows or corrugations for distributing water on the field will save water as compared o flooding where the stream is small. A soil that is of medium texture is needed. The furrows may be 3 to 4 feetapart, 220 to 240 feet long, being shorter on sandy, soil. As soon as possible after Irn'gatloa or when the soil is dry enough to crumble, cultivation .df ,,row crops should be given In-order to restore tilth,- kill seedling weeds, and check evaporation. ; ' Fourteen Year Results 011 Sup plemental Irrigation in the ' Willamette Valley ; Table I shows result of fourteen years of irrigation on 'Willamette silty clay loam at the experiment station. This does not include data for the present growing season or for 1923. although ex periments are being continued. The main experiment includes a rotation of grain, clover, potatoes, and corn. One-tenth acre of each crop is dry farmed, one-tenth acre receives a light irrigation, a third tenth' receives a medium amount of water, and a fourth portion a large amount of irrigation. Where winter grain is used no water is supplied to that crop. The amount of water that has given the maxj-i mum net profit or best-amount of Irrigatln for all crops I aver aged in table I and amounts t4 6 Inches depth per acre. Nearly a Vu-vuu increase in lue yiciu oi hay crops has been secured. This increase n. growth comes in .the late cuttings. ; It frequently hap- pens that irrigation saves a stand of clover or provides green feed or pasture late in the season. The average increase from Irrigation Table I. Summary of Fourteen Year's Experiment1 Showing Best Ainouut of Irrigation aid f Value of Sllty Clay Ixmuii - Oregon Agricultural College Experiment Station Depart, of Soil j Yield per acre Increase from Irrigation r ": Depth ' - " '1. . , Net Years of. dollars in irriga- Irrigation Dry Per acre Per inch per trial tlon Bu. or T. Bu.orT.- Bu.orT. Bu.orT. acre ' In i ' 1 ' ' I : . - ', Potatoes 14 4.00 210 bu. 132.00 83.00 21.00 $35.10 Clover 11 7.63 ; 528 T. 3.47 1.81 .24 10.05 Alfalfa 11 10.00 5.05 T. 2 81 2.14 i .21 10.90 Corn 9 , 5.31 j 9.15 T. 6.18 2.97 .56 8.79 Beans 10 3.00 , 17.28 bu. ,; 12,38 4.90 1.63 11.55 Carrots 1 3.00 . 23.42 T. : 13.02 10.40 i 3.46 . 36.00 Beets 8 5.40 ; 18.66 T. 11.84 6.82 ! 1.26 20.18 Kale 3 4.00 15.67 T. ; 13.74 1.93 ! .48 4.18 Garss 7 -9.33 3.97 T. 1" 3.66 1.17 .10- 2.07 Average 6 inches : " j j" - j I $12.09 1 Pastured some. : 1 The net: increase from irriga tion in dollars per acre has been obtained by charging a dollar per acre inch, plus a small charge for harvesting! the amount, of the in crease, for crops valued at " a mo derate, average. price; namely, 50c per bushel for potatoes, $3,00 per bushelr for beans,; and $10 ; per ton for hay. Three cents per bushel and 25c per ton was charg ed for harvesting : the Increase, increase In crop value for all crops from the average : application of 6 inches has"' been,' slightly more than $12 per. acre. Value of Isolation and Manuring ' In Connection with Irrigation In the early years of this ex periment ' it , became very evident that rotation which permitted plowing down" legume I sod, and turning under manure in each Tabic II. A'aluc of Rotation,. Irrigation, - Ave rage .. Average yearly yield : ' - i Acre Acre inch Treatment .-: f -j. -:- - In.'.. v In- -, Beans:. " ' i : ! . " ... Continuous .... ! 9.24 11.53 .... -',.... 2,909 ' Rotated :.: .1.1 J0.13 ..... 20.37 8.82 .... 2,349 Rotated and r 1 ' .. manured 12.91- 21.26 9.71 1,900 Irrigat. continuous 9.85 ; 3.82 15.37- .... 5.12 2,622 Irrigated A rotat. 15.74 6.10 29.46. 14.09 9.82 1,794 Irrigated,' rotated and manured .; 18.29 7.14 38.39 23.02 12.80 1,423 At the beginning of this experi ment the average , . yield of all plots was about 12 bushels Of beans per acre sThe plots cropped continuously were 'on slightly bet ter soil than those of the rotation. The land i3 "halfrwhlte land" of Amity silty clay loam. At the end Of this experiment . we found the continuously cropped plots pro duced about 6 bushels per acre, and the plots which received Irri gation rotation and manure yield ed about 20 bushels per acre. As a nine-year average the yields were practically doubled, due to Irrigation, rotation, and . manure once each crop rotation. As j a result of these treatments, the yield per acre inch was more than doubled and the average net pro fit was greatly Increased by rota IRRIGATION! HEST 5M0N If D I SEGTIQ After Serious Experiences and Many Discouragements, the Project of the Willamette Irrigation Land Company Is Getting Under Headway So as to Give Real Service, and Did Much Good Last Year 15,000 Acres to Come Under. Irrigation There Editor Statesman: Your letter 'of, the 14th .-was received. As I have been out of the elty for three days, I was not able to give you the information until today. ' i The Willamette Valley Irriga tion Land company has passed through a very serious experlnce. When the company was organized. about thirteen years ago, the pro jects were extremely favorable for the successful development of the district between West Stay- ton, Turner, and Marion. A group of citizens of Portland invested about $125,000 in good faith and pOrchased lands after a careful investigation made by ono of the best irrigation engineers available.4 of potatoes is 83 bushels per acre, or ,21 bushels per acre inch, or per dollar total annual irrigation cost. Beans have received, an average depth of 3 inches supplied in a single Irrigation, and iave given an Increase of practically 5 bushels per acre. ' crop rotation, was of great-value In increasing efficiency of the water provided. An experiment was therefore arranged ! to meas ure the value of crop rotation and manure for increasing the return per unit of .water employed. Four plots each of grain," lAlsike clover, and white beans were grown each year, and; the crops rotated in the order named. One plot of each crop' was dry farmed, the second was dry farmed and manured, the third was irrigated, and the fourth was Irrigated and manured. Two additional plots, one irrigated and one dry; farmed, were provided adjacent to these rotations, and were cropped to beans continuous ly. One of these was, dry farmed and the "other irrigated. The results secured' from the nine years of this' experiment cov ering 3 rotations are given in Table II. ! Manured Xlnc-Year Average net profit Water re Gain from rotation quirement of Acre ( lbs. per lb. Acre manure .Inch dry matter) tion and by the use of manure in each rotation- The ' profit per acre inch of water employed also showed a marked increase from these treatments. The last column in Table II shows the water re quirement as to pounds of dry matter produced, which - is the ration of the number of pounds of dry matter, produced to the pounds of soil, rain, and irrigation water consumed. '-'tf - ' It was found that the Water re quirement had been cut in two, or that the water efficiency had been doubled by irrigation, rotation, and manure. Rotation Is especial ly Important on our rather heavy soils, and Is likewise Important in building up sandy land under Ir rigation. ', . 11 The state's engineer approved the plan. The Oregon Agricultural college lent their support and In dorsement, r A canal was constructed from West Stayton on toward Turner. Approximately 4.000 acres were either purchased or taken under option, and withal approximately a quarter of a million dollars was invested within the first two years. Then came the World war. - Sales had - been made to people who were not experienced In irrigation. The very neighborhood . seemed antagonistic, and one thing after another developed and caused the company to go -Into the hands of a receiver. Finally the greater of L the stock company lost interest, in S GOES FORWARD -wj" " " 1 Thii cut Is used by courtesy of Ihe Associated Industries, of Oregon.- THIS WEEK'S SLOGAN DID YOU KNOW That the fanners of the Salem district are rapidly learning the uses of irrigation, especially in exceptionallyfdry years; that pumps for irrigation (the best for the purpose known and the longest lived and cheapest) are being made in large numbers in Salem; that irrigation districts are coming to life here, with many more to follow; that every farmer who has running water on his land where it can be made available or irrigation purposes has begun to realize that he has ; something better than a small gold mine; that, with some crops, water available for irrigation represents the difference between total loss and 100 per cent crops, in unusually dry summers; that the Oregon Agricul tural college people are ready to give all help possible in the matter, of irrigation information, and that prepar ation for irrigation must be made 100 per cent efficient here in due course, and that this ought to be soon? LIFE INSURANCE F George W. Shand of the Salem Iron works was too busy to give the Slogan editor much time yes terday . ; . j " ' Too Jbusy making Irrigation pumps, : .'i .. On the point of the benefits of irrigation for the Salem district, he said that the whole subject may be covered by the statement that, in dry years, on some lands, with some crops; irrigation will make the difference ; between a good crop and nQ crop at all.. Ir rigation here is 14fe insurance for crops. - , - r Mr. Shand proceeded to Illus trate the point by a concrete ex ample of his own. He had a six acre potato patch In 1922. That as a dry year, in the summer season. His potatoes were getting thirgty, so he "turned the water addition to losing their original in vestment. ' 1 " " -- l." ; -f.'. . . Liook More Favorable After thirteen years of strug gles, conditions now seem to be more favorable The last few years there has been a growing sentiment in favor' of irrigation. In 1924 the land was so dry that it fairly cried out for water. -The late T. B. Wilcox had been one of the strongest advocates of Irrigation, and before his death had urged the writer to join with hm and save the property and the project, if: possible, and recom mended that the underlying mort gages, delinquent taxes, and' the old judgments against the, project be bought in to avoid the entire remaining assets from going into the hands of outside parties. . u Since purchasing these mart gage, we have endevored to re organize the. project and have en gaged Mr. Peter Thomasson to look, after the physical properties, and have associated with us Mr. Percy Cupper of Salem, who aids us in the engineering matters. . ; ( " Of Ileal Service , f This year,weJiope,to be of real service to J the -community and provide Irrigation fors those that are in position to make good use of It. . The flax grown in that locality last year under irrigation, showed the great value of irriga tion. The soil seems to be-especially suited to irrigation. . A growth of flax on the same land under dry farming methods and under irrigation proves the great value of water property applied. We are now going, forward with our work vigorously, developing and extending our laterals, and cleaning out'the canals, and we feel that bur original faith is soon to be justified. There' has beeh a wonderful change in the senti ment of the community. The farm ers no longer feel : antagonistic, but rather are encouraging . our efforts, and giving us their sup port. "" . ... i . - - " : This season a considerable in crease of acreage will be under irrigation, and we believe-there will follow an era of increased prosperity and largely increased crops in the district near West Stayton and toward Turner, J and as these demonstrations prove for themselves the value-' of water, it is only a question of time , until practically the entire acreage, ap proximating; over ; 13.000 i acres, will be. under irrigation, handled by farmers who" will become ex perienced In the proper use water. We look forward to a time when the. district will become a garden of flowers, as well ' as producing profitable crops. While some years irrigation may not be as necessary, irrigation on - the land will act as a crop life In surance to be used when most needed. Youis truly. E. L.. TIIOMPEON Portland, May 18r 1323 D onto them, ana he harvested 1100 sacks of potatoes from his six acres. :' ' ' ' !; : . Prunes,' Walnuts, Filberts, Etc. Mr. Shand, while his main occu pation Is with his foundry and machine shops, the Salem Iron Works, isisomething of a farmer. He has a 170-acre farm about five miles south of Salem, out on the Jefferson road. He raises sheep and other things; has 60 acres of bearing prune trees', 15 acres in walnuts, and six acres in filberts, the filberts being young trees. . He J will have a good crop of prunes this year, comparatively. It will be about a 50 per cent crop from present indications. He is also growing eight acres of flax this year. While he makes pumps, he does not need to use a pump on h la own farm. -He irrigates ; from a creek, by gravity. He just runs the creek down hill and I spreads the water over the land where and when It is needed. Makes Good Pumps Mr. Shand makes good pumps. His pump is the Shand centrifugal pump, and he thinks It Is the best pump made;- that It-will deliver, more water in a given time at less cost than any other pump ever made; that' it is the cheapest of all pumps? and will wear longer than any other that there is very little about the pump to wear. Mr. Shand has been selling a lot of his pumps; many of thenx in the Salem district for irrigation purposes. He thinks there should be more of these used by our farmers. Crop Life Insurance - The present season is such, with abundant rainfall, that per haps not much irrigation will be needed in the Salem district. T. A.,.Livesley & Co., Salem, who have the best equipped hop yards in the whole world, and are. pre pared - at one of . -their largest yards for irrigation, are planning to get along this year -without even starting their pumps. They are cultivating in such a way as to conserve the present moist con ditions. But they' needed Irriga tion in that yard badly last year, and used It, and Increased their yield there by at least 25 percent. That Is- what "Irrigation . here means.' as stated above. ; It means life Insurance, for crops. T If ,It is needed at all. It Is needed badly. It will pay most farmers in the Willamette "valley, with any of the crops needing Intense cultivation, to be prepared to irrigate; to sup ply the. moisture that a long dry time, in the summer season makes Impossible to secure otherwise, or to conserve from earlier rains. - -Keeping' Them Jumping The making of pumps for irri gation, and for all other purposes is keeping the Salem Iron Works forces jumping. They ) have to work far Into the night, some nights."" 'Last year they made for the Llvesley people for irrigating their hops two pumps with a ca pacity of 4000 gallons an hour each, and made pumps for, many irrigation projects, and for tho canneries and others. They supplied some of the pumps to the state highway de: partment last year, and they . worked so economically that this department rdeed 18 new ones this year, for road work in differ ent parts of the state. These are all 2 inch pumps," giving a ca pacity of SO 00 gallons a minute each. They have just sent two pumps i mis size to a cannery-at Puyal- lup, Vash two to the cannery at Hillsboro,: one for Pearcy Bros., nurserymen and nrrharrt .-mnrts. Salem, and many others. The making of pumps, in addition to all thefr nthpf a.-n-rlr l-nna (Itnm more than busy. Cut Mr. Shand thinks this irri gation movement for the Salem district is not being pushed as hard ss it should be pushed, for the cood cf the individual grow ers, and for the good of all our people. - V i
