The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1886-07-17
Irrigating Small plants.


In this country irrigation Is hardly ever
practiced except in regions where the rain.
fall is generally insufficient to insure the
production of most cultivated crops or
where 1t is restricted to few weeks In the
most excellent results In many parts OF the
west and south where the rainfall is ordin.
arily sufficient to insure the production Of
good crops, but where severe droughts are
likely TO occur during the summer seems
obvious. If farmer can irrigate few
acres of land he can produce all the vege.
tables and small fruits that his family will
require, even if there is no rain during the
months In which plants make their princi.
pal growth. If he can irrigate but a sin.
gle acre he can raise on 1t all the potatoes
garden vegetables and straw berries that his
family can consume. He can also raise
many cabbages and roots that 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 small streams
that afford water enough during the year
to rrigate an acre of land during a season
of plotracted drought The water of the
stream or spring generally flows between
banks that render the building Of q 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 ores.
cent A strong, watertight dam may be
made of soil that contains large proper
ton of clay. To prevent washing the sur
face can be covered with turf or 1t can be
seeded to grass. The dam should be pro.
vided with passage for water on top so as
to prevent washing when the pond becomes
full Ca the side from which the water is
to be drawn off for irrigation purposes
there should be n spout of wood or metal
that can be closed by a water gate. From
this there should be shallow channel run
ming above the plat of land that is TO be ir
rigated II the season requires the artificial
application of water In order to produce
crops.
From this channel lateral drains can be
opened from time to time with noe, as
the condition of the land to he irrigated
requires. the vegetables should he planted
in rows running At right angles 10 the main
irrigating channel The water should be
made to flow between 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
small extent of ground is to be irrigated
great pains should be taken in its prepare
tion 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 sufficient fall 70 al
low the water to find its way over the
ground. If the decline is considerable
the soil will be washed away from the sur
face that Is highest 1t is n good plan to
work the ground with a cultivator or hoe
from one TO three days before the water is
let on il. The plants will then grow with
most astonishing rapidly, and will require
no more water for several days. The finest
vegetables and small fruit are produced on
land that is artiticially watered.
A reservoir is of great value 10 farm,
even if the water 1t holds Is not needed for
irrigating purposes for a series of years on
account of sufficient rainfall. An artificial
pond or lake adds greatly 10 the beauty of
farm. Especially is this the case if it
contains an island that is planted TO trees,
shrubs and flowers, and has its bank Orna.
mented by similar means A supply Of
water like that afforded by an artificial pond
is very useful for stock purposes 1t saves
the cost of raising water from well. II
gives the farmer an excellent opportunity
for raising water fowls. 1t also makes 1t
easy for him TO lay in supply of ice. The
pond can be used for raising carp and other
kinds of fish. 1t has been demonstrated
both in this country and Germany that an
acre of water can be made 10 produce as
much food as an acre of land. The water,
when once supplied with fish, continues TO
produce food almost without labor or eX-
pense. A fish pond is promotiye of pleas
ure as we'll AS of profit. If it is properly
ornamented, as it may be at small expense,
il will be the most attractive portion of the
farm. -thic0g0 Times.