The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1886-08-05
GARDEN
Advantages to Be Derived from ~Irrigatinf
Small Plots of Land.

Small Plots of Land.
In this country irrigation is hardly
eve practiced except in regions where
the rainfall is generally insufficient to
insure the production of most cultivated
crops, or where it is restricted to a few
weeks in the season. That it might be
practiced with most excellent results in
many parts of the West and South.
where the rainfall is ordinarily sufi-
Gent to insure the production of good
crops, but where severe droughts are
likely to occur during the summer,
seems obvious. If a farmer can irrigate
a few acres of land, he can produce all
the vegetables and small fruits that his
family will require, even if there is no
rain during the months in which plants
make their principal growth. If he can
irrigate but a single acre he can raise
on it all the potatoes, garden vegetables
and strawberries that his family can
consume. He can also raise many cab
bages and roots hat will be of great
value to his stock. The product of this
acre will ''keep the wolf from the door,
and prevent the sacrifice of property or
the contracting of debts.
On many farms there are streams OF
springs that afford water enough dur
ing the year to irrigate an acre of la nd
during a season of p%rotracted drouth.
The water of the stream or spring gen
orally flows between banks that render
the building of a dam comparatively
cheap and easy. If there are stones in
the vicinity, a foundation for the dam
can be made of them, they being
placed below the frost line. The dam
may be made straight or in the form OF
a crescent. A strong water-tight dam
may be made of soil that contains a
large proportion of clay. To prevent
washing, the surface can be covered
with turf, or it can be seeded to grass.
The dam should be provided with a
passage for water on top SO as to pre-
vent washing when the pond becomes
full. On the side from which the water
is to be drawn off for irrigating pur-
poses there should be a spout of wood
or metal that a be closed by a water
gate. From this there should be q
shallow channel running above the plat
of land that is to be irrigated if the sea-
son requires the artificial application CT
water in order to produce crops
From this channel lateral drains can
be opened from time to time with a hoe,
as the condition of the land to be irri.
gated requires. The vegetables should
be planted in rows running at right
angles to the main irrigating channel
The water should be made to flow be-
tween the rows late in the afternoon or
early in the morning. 1t is not well to
allow it to run in the middle of the day
when the sun is shining. When a small
extent of ground is to be irrigated, great
pains should be taken in it's preparation
before planting, and in its cultivation.
1t should be deeply plowed or spaded,
highly MANFRED and kept free from
grass and weeds. The surface should
be nearly level, there being only sufii-
cent fall to allow the water to find its
way we the ground. If the decline is
considerable the soil will be washed
away from the surface that is the high
est. 1t is a good plan to work the
ground with a cultivator or hoe from
one to three days before the water is let
on it. The plants will then grow with
the most astonishing rapidity, and will
require no more water for several days.
The finest vegetables and small fruit
are produced on land that is artificially
watered.
Areservoir is of great value to a farm.
even if the water it holds is not needed
for irrigating purposes for a series of
years on account of sufficient rainfall.
An artificial pond or lake adds greatly
to the beauty of a farm. Especially is
this the case if it contains an island that
is planted to trees, shrubs and flowers,
and has its banks ornamented by SIM
liar means. A supply of water like that
afforded by an artificial pond is very
useful TO; stock purposes. 1t saves the
cost of raising water from a well. 1t
gives the farmer an excellent oppor-
tunity for raising water fowls. 1t also
makes it easy for him to lay in a supply
of ice. The pond can be used for rails
ing carp and other kinds of fish. 1t has
been demonstrated, both in this country
and Germany, thai an acre of water can
be made to produce as much food as an
acre of land. The water, when once
| supplied with fish, continues to produce
food almost without labor OF expense.
A fish pond is promotive of pleasure as
veil as of profit. If it is properly orna-
.nented, as it may be at small expense.
will be the most attraoliv portion Of
shs farm.@g Ase1so NinseA