Arizona weekly citizen., 1886-11-27
Method of Irrigation.

treesi plants, and cereals IS hn aft to oe learned only by e1perIence. A thorough knowledge of conducting the hte-glvlng fluid over the land means a saving m its use, better cultivation, and an increased production. The system varies with the diverse conditions of different countries, from the primitive Ester-wheel ot the Egyptian peasant to the sub-irrigston plpes Of Southern California. The earl fest, the simplest, and the cheapest method is by flooding. By this plan the water is made 10 cover the whole area under tillsge. to the required depth. From the main canal the cultivator con- veys the water to his land by lateral ditches. Very often number of far mers whose holdings lie contiguous, mite in constructing the main lateral" From this each opens suo-laterals or field Gitches. which carry the water to all parts of the farm.
 FLOODING.
 The plan of "hooiing' is the most wasteful manner of applying water to the soil, but it cannot be avoided in the cultivation of cereals. With regul- AT slope the work is trifiing, but ID most countries some outlay IS required for levslling surface inequalities, and pro viding for the equal distribution of the stream from points ui vantage. When the fall is slight, shallow dItches are run from fifty to one hundred feet apart Tn the directiCn of the slope; when the land is sleeper they are carried diagonally to the slope or made to wind around II, and from these, by throwing up little dams from pOins to point. the whole field IS flooded. These ridges or dams must have rounded crests and easy slopes, so as not to interfere with the use of farm ing machinery. By ms8us of diagonal furrows and dams 1t Is claimed that che man can irrigste twenty-five acres in a day. This Is the plan which prevails ID Colorado for the raising of grain.
 In the valleys of Southern Ar'zOna the labor and cost of applying water to the soil is, perhaps, less than in any other region of the irrigated area of Western merlca. The land IS almost as level as a floor. with gradual slope from the foot hills tO the streams. The farms are checked of into plsts by shallow fur rows. into which the water from the sub laterals finds its way and is quickly con veyed to every part of the field. The AlAbNCoI n 0b cAAu PaC AiAtAA hAA AAtA AHtAACAA- ced hand finds no difficulty ia soon the details. IL may be ssId that in flooding" the aim should be to put no more on the lapd than 1t will a. once and equally absorb, or can part with without creating B current that will carry of sediment. Where there is heavy fali and the water has been allow ed to flow too freely, the result has been the washing away of all the tertiliZ ing elements.
 BY BURROWS.
 Irrigation by means of furrows has been found successful for vines and fruit trees, as also i1r nearly all vege- tables. These furrOws are generally rua from four to ten feet apart. and when the water flows through them 1t oaks quickly to the roots, whereas by The flooding system the soil Is apt to bake if not protected from the sun. When unrestricted flooding Is practiced in orchards. 1t is found to bring the roots to the surface, enteeble the trees l and give the fruit an Insipld taste. | a small hole IS opened in the | 'urrow gt the foot of the tree. into l ghioh the water slowly soaks. A better | way Is to surrouud the tree or shrub by | small ridges some thTee feet from l where the water flows. To obtain | be best results the trees should be | ,arefully looked after, and supplied | with ju-t water enough to keep them | 2 a vigorous c1ndi ion. IL is also of | he first importance that the soil be | iep; loosened. By doing thls the water s more readily absorbed and there is ess lost by evaporation.
 sUB-IRRIGATIoN.
 Irrigation beneath the surface IS con iaered the po.t neStsc! method of sup plying water to vesets.. ID which this is done ID Cali iornis Is thus described by the state of that common wealth: Pipes, made of a combination of Portland ce- nent, lime, sand and gravel. with of potash and linsevd oil, are aId at depth of one and half or two Ieet below the surface, parslleled to the rows of trees or vines. On the upper side of these pipes IS inserted a wooden plug, with a tapering hole ID the center about three-eighths of an inch In d. ameier, through which the water perco .ates. Each plug Is surrounded by a stand pipe setting on top of the distrlbu- ton pipe, open at the bottom and reach ing to surface. This pipe keeps tho earth away frcm the outlet and leav, l. at all times accessible for inspection The distribution pipes are connected with mains leading from s ressrvolr, and the labor of irrigation merely con -lsts ID turning on the water and shut ting It oil The water finds its waN through all the outlets and slowl, the roots. None is carried ob the surface, consequently the ground 1 does not bake, but it is kept moist and | mellow. In the orchard of the inventor | ct this system, three acres of fruit were irrigated within half au hour Water | ipplied twice month is sufficient to l Q strong and healthy growth. | md the trees attain twice the size of | others of the same age and the same soil, irrigated from the surface. By this | system 1t IS estimated that a cubic foot | Jf water will be sufficient to suppb | rom 1000 to 5000 acres. Three men ,sn lay l,600 feet of pipe per day-the | cost of the work completed, being frou s3O to $50 per acre" Where water is 'carce and high priced fruits are culti- | hACds NuAc uAtAntl 4S ihSt EuDFTsellu. he old surface system.
 BY PUMPING.
 Irrigation of vineyards and orchard. | ly lifting water from various depths | l' s long been practIced m California. The motive pn~er, m many cases. Is by wIndmills. These cover put limited area, but several orchard ats have adopted steam power vhic. Dump water for extensive tracts. | ebding fruit grower of the southern | part of the state. who depends entirek ipon thIs method for the raising of | 'rup, furLishes the following data: With a six-inch pump, driven by a wenty horsepower engine, I have I 'aised l,s00 gallons per minute. The Irlce of such a pump. including engine. boiler and all steam fittings, is Sl,4OO | To cover an acre of land one inch deep with water. requires. in round number. s .OOO gallons One miners inch being line gallons nearly, 1t would require to over twenty-one acres one inch deep, .555 inches, or 4S0, 600 gals. 4 No. tur- inc will raise in days run of 10 hours. 5000 gals This would be at tle rate