Page:Report of the Oregon Conservation Commission to the Governor (1908 - 1914).djvu/154

16 in a single season, including fall pasture, and four cuttings have been obtained where it is cut and fed direct from the field. Four crops of alfalfa, besides fall pasture, have been grown at Corvallis. Such crops were unheard of before irrigation was practiced.

The United States Department of Agriculture has for several years maintained experiment stations at ilhlisboro, Corvallis. and Albany. to determine how much irrigation will increase the yield of certain crops.

The followi,,g, taken from circular 78, U. S. Department of Agriculture, office of experiment stations, are some of the Fesults from the first year’s work. They show an increase in yield far greater than was expected and the last two years’ work are even more convincing that general iFrigation is not only immensely profitable but well-nigh indispensable.

YII,I Cr r[I.F,,I p{at,...% ! r.or’III. lIrtfrFI. ‘tic. Vi.,Id 1 I..b.t• & ‘f .hI. •(‘ j !!• •&% VnlrrlRnt.’.I IrrLg,te.II’.-t(’. IrrIi.t,’,I u,,Irrl,a{I }[!• t I!’.gOI. WV. ..t IrrIgated VO) Irrighteci tw, 71 IeId IrrigattI .11.1 LI,I,rI,F,’,I II.IJ(IIntI,. CI R(I!I. i — ‘‘II ,(,,,ty—fl,ur rrIgnIed ,, &74) kid from tw,,[ty—ftI,, The conclusions of this circular, the first official bulletin on the subject, are so pertinent that they are published in full. (1) It (irrigation] will s.rve as a cm’, insurance for those erops which in ordinary years are mat”rcd before the dry season, but, stiffer during ecept’onI per’od of early drought. (2) The mild climate makes it possible for the dairy herd to secure food during all seasons of the yea’ except the slimmer, but under present conditions it is necessary to feed them either dry feed or silage during the su,TInIer months when pastu rs are dried up, Irrigation will prodirne green food during this dry period and will make it pos&ble to carry the herd into the winter season in full milk. 3 } The market-garden ndust ‘y is coming to depend upon irrigation for ta fu] kst development, and already in many easa msrket