The Placer herald., 1873-06-14
HO U Sc AND FARM.
SUBTERRANEOUS IRRIGATION.

pipe, made of redwood boards, to carry
water from my pump to trough in my cor
raj; this pipe was buried under ground about
one foot, and as the water had to rise about
30 inches at the far end, to flow in the
horse trough, there was considerable pres
sure on it; and when first made it leak ed
considerably. This was my first experience
in subterraneous irrigation; noticed thai
where leaks occurred, that the ground was
moistened not only vertically, but literally
for some distance each side of the pipe this
was W hard, tramped and constantly used
path; also noticed that the effect of this
rising moisture was not only to wet the
ground but it also made it loose and mellow,
and that weeds and grasses near those leaks
started up and grew up with great vigor.
1t is we'll known that surface irrigation
also causes vigorous growth, but the diff
ference consists in this, that whilst water
rising in the ground has tendency to loosen
the soil, water sinking in the soil has ex-
actly the opposite tendency of settling and
compactng the soil; it is well known that if
land is not stirred after surface irrigation, it
will dry out with great rapidity, whilst on
the contrary, by the other, it will re-
main loose and mellow even after it becomes
dry.
i saw at once that l had discovered the
true secret of irrigation, and devised the fol-
lowing plan for putting it in practice: Take
Of redwood boards, the first inches, sec
ond inches and the third inches wide;
nail the three and four inch boards together
in the form of a V, using composition or
galvanized iron nais upon the top edges OF
this trough every ten or twelve inches, cul
notches half an inch Deep and on top of the
V place the inch board, tacking it lightly
to the others; in placing the trough on the
ground, the V, which must be water tight =,
should be laid in trench in the ground
about two feet below the surface with the 5
inch board upward.
1t will be seen that water cannot escape
from this trough, except as it overhows at
the top edges; consequently it can be laid
level, or with a slight inclination, and water
will flow from one end to the other, without
escaping. The object of the top board is
to keep out the dirt, and by reason Of its
own weight and the pressure of the super
incumbent earth, to permit the water to be
turned into the trough from tank of con
siderable elevation. The greater the pres
sure the greater the force with which the
water will rush ont of the notches on each
side, and the wider the strip or belt of land
1t will irrigate. The proper length of these
troughs, as well as the size, should be reg
ulated by experience, as also the distance
fron ccace other at which they Should be laid
think that each one viii wet sufficiently
utr of tom Hftaa, faat in u,;1tk J;Har;,,cr
according to the nature Of the soil in which
it is laid. 1t is also my opinion that in this
way the water would he evenly distributed
the whole length of the trough.
find on our naturally moist land, that
with deep plowing and subsoiIing, nature
supplies the subterraneous irrigation, and
consequently there has been no necessity
for me to try it here. On dry lands con
slider it worthy of trial; of course the ends
of the pipe must be closed; the water can
be conveyed into it through pipe of either
wood or metal; ! think one tenth of the
water usually required for surface irrigations
would be quite as effectual, with the advan-
tage that the quantity can be regulated ex-
actly, which cannot be done by the usual
plan. There will be little or no loss by
evaporation, aud if made of sound red
wood they will last many years.
1t is probably too expensive for general
cultivation, but for lawns, shrubbery
nursery and market gardens, it is just what
is wanted; and although the first cost is con-
siderable, there is no labor required, except
to turn on and shut off the water; this and
the saving in cultivation, would soon repay
it.
DoUGHNUTs WITHOUT EGGs.-Put into
a large dish 3 pints of -four, mix with Ii
teacups sugar, 2 teaspoons cream tartar,
salt and grated nutmeg Put into a quart
bowl teaspoon soda, teur on a teacup boil
mg water, piece Of butter size of a small
walnut; when melted add II teacups milk
and pour into the dry part If rolled out
and cut in strips about an inch wide, and
then twisted, they seem to be relished bet
ter than any other way. Cook in hoi
fat.
WHITENING SMOKED WALLS "A method OF
cleaning and whitening smoked walls con.
sists in the first place. of rubbing of
all the black, loose dirt upon them, by
means of of broom, and then
washing them down with strong soda lye,
which is to be afterward removed by means
Of water TO which little hydrochloric acid
has been added. When the walls are dry
thin coating of lime, with the addition Of
solution of alum, is to be applied Aftei
this has become little dry the walls are tc
be calcimined, or coated with a solution o
CHICKEN TERRAPIN. Boil one medum-sized
chicken until it is well done, cut the mea,
off from the bone and make it fine, and pu
it with. one cupful boiling water; mix unit
entirely smooth a quarter ofa pound of but
ter, one teaspoonfu of -four, yolk of tive
eggs; stir this mixture into the chicken, I
littae at time. mixing it we'll through; lie
IT simmer few minutes, stirring all th
time. When ready to lake up add abou
one half gill of Madeira wine- Send no
a. Al