Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1884-09-18
The Advantage of Rye as a Forage
Crop---FarminS in Indiana.
THE WATER SUPPLY FOR FARMS.

THE WATER SUPPLY FOR FARMS.
The natural supply of water for prai-
RE farms is generally not what is de-
sired. There is generally quite too
much surface water during the spring
and the latter portions of the fall, and
a great scarcity of water at those sea-
sons of the year when it is most want
ed for stock purposes. There are in
many places creeks and boys that con-
tain water at certain times in the year,
but it is likely to contain too many i'm
purities for domestic purposes as for
stock. Where the surface of the ground
is quite level there are few streams
that furnish good water. Good springs
are also scarce. Where they do exist
they are likely to be on quite low
ground that affords too little fall for
carrying off the water. They are ac-
cordingly likely to become filled up, if
they are neglected, as they generally
are. The water saturates the soil for
a considerable distance about them and
causes q luXuriant growth or undeSira-
bic vegetation. 1t is often easy to clean
out these springs and to convey the
water they afford by means of pipes to
troughs, which can be located on dry
ground where animals can drink with
out sinking into the mud. The basin
excavated about the spring can be in
closed-if it is a pasture-so that cat
tie will not enter it and render the wa
ter muddy. The fall necessary for con-
veying water through q pipe need be
but slight, provided it is uniform. An
inclination of one foot in hundred is
amply sufficient to secure good flow
Of water. If the pipes are composed of
suitable material, and are carefully
placed in position, an inclination OF
six inches in ahundred feet is sufficient
The pipes may be of wood, lead, or
iron. Generally iron pipes, such Us are
employed for conveying gas, will be
found to be the cheapest. The lengths
are fastened together with screw coup
Iings that are easily adjusted. If de-
sirable 4 faucet can be fastened at the
end where the water is discharged. If
the pipes are quite small the end at
which the water enters should be pro-
1ectcd by wire gauze, that will keep out
grass and other substances that will
obstruct the flow of water.
Excellent water may often be OBJ
tanned from the springy places on the
side of the slight elevations on prairie
farms. Sometimes an acre or more of
land in such 4 situation IS permanent
ly moist, and the ground in such 4 con-
ditiOn as respects moisture that it can
not be put in cultivated crops. 1t pro-
duces grass, but is very difficult to cut
it with Il machine, as the horses draw
ing it will be likely to sink in the moist
iS n To ho
when cut. Ii the land is devoted to
pasturage it will be of little value. The
quality of the grass will be poor The
surface will be uneven, as cattle will
break the soil in tramping over it.
There is good supply OF water some
where on the ground. Although the
location of the spring is not visible,
careful investigation ut the time of year
when the ground is driest will general
ly result in discovering where the
water issues from the subsoil and ap-
proaches the surface. The place may
often be located by the use OF q strong
pointed stake. BY taxing out few
spadesful of earth here and there, it
can be ascertained where the water
fills the cavity quickest. A well-defin-
ed, boiling spring may often be found
with little trouble When it is found
all that IS necessary TO do to obtain
good supply of excellent water is to
make suitable excavation, to wall it
up with stone like q we'll or to place
Il nomshead in it. The water may be
conveyed from the spring thus improv-
Ell 0r means of u pipe as before suG-
mvS;cd Sometimes there is no wcl!-
defined sDring-that is, no considerable
amount OF water issues from the sub
soil in any particular spot, although
large quantity approaches the surface
within the distance of a few rods.
When this is the case the judicious en-
ployment of tile will carry off the water
to a reservoir at which cattle can drink
or from which it can be conveyed to
pasture some distance off, The re-
claiming of the land and rendering it
fit for producing annual crops and
good grass and clover will more than
pay the cost of doing the drainage and
utilizing the water drawn off for stock
purposes.
The cost of digging and stoning up
wells is not usually very great, but the
cost in labor of raising the water is
considerable. 1t is very hard work 10
raise water from We'll Tor large
stock of cattle, even if one has the adj
vantage of a good hand-pump. Wind
mills for raising water are expensive to
buy, and in this part of the country,
where violent winds prevail, they are
very liable to injury. Persons owning
farms that join would do well to COM
bine in digging wells to supply water
for stock and in the purchase of wind
mills. One large well and a good wind
mill may often serve for supplying wa
ter sufficient for the stock kept on four
farms. BY having the pastures on the
portions of the farms that form corners
near where the well is situated the
stock kept in all of them may be sup
piled with water during the summer at
comparatively small outlay for each
farmer. The water may be raised and
stored in an elevated tank, from which
it can be conveyed to a drinking
trough in each of the four pastures. If