The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1893-04-19

from fertilizing elements contained in the water
or from the action of the water upon the latent
minerals of the soil does not definitely appear.
Examples OF this may bes in Lower California
where in the midst of q DESERTS found q valley of
perpetual green Astounding in rarest productions
of the fruits of the earth
Again the Pima Indians in Arizona have cul-
tivated the same land for five hundred years.
Their cultivation has been xtensive and thorough
though somewhat crude. Nothing has ever been
applied but apparently pure water. 1t would be
error to argue general rule from these and nu-
merous other examples but that an abundance
of water everywhere quickens and fructifes the
soil, helps to render latent elements available
hastens the action of fertilizers applied, and leaves
the land better prepared to receive andhold both
the fertizing elements that abound in the at
mosphere, and the rainfall which otherwise would
not penetrate the mpacted surface, is beyond
question.
II. That no definite rule exists as to the amount
of water required for successful irrigation. This
all depends on the rainfall, velocity of the winds.
atmospheric humidity, soil, the kinds of crops to
be raised, etc. Even in the fruit growing regions
conditions vary, much that no general rule
can be named.
IL. That the methods of applying water are
varied. Some lands are SO located that they can
be flooded through large bitches or mains. The
water is applied through smaller bitches or fur
rows that are changed from time to time as cir
cumstances require. The large bitches or mains
ar usually owned by corporations, and require
large capital W hich is beyond the means of the
individual. The source is usually mountain
streams, tapped high enough up the mountain
side to give the necessary head, but sometimes is
from system of artesan wells located at some
higher point. The farmer pays so much min
er's inch measured at the gate Of his ditch.
The waste by seepage and Evaporation is great,
nd this system is only available where the supply
is unlimited. Happy is the lot of the farmer thus
situated. Again many individual flowing
wells are used and the water conductedin trenches
along the surface, some of which cemented to
prevent waste. This is generally done where
there is clay or compact soil, SO that the water
will flow q long distance and where there is q
sufficient supply from one or more wells.
Farms andorchards irrigated from wells orlarge
bodies of water, with the water naturally flowing
or forced through systems OF pipes are very nu-
merous both in Europe and America. The
first cost to the farmer fruit grower is much
greater, but where water is scarce and the soil
porous, the end iustifes the means. 1t is to-day
a much mooted question whether a ystem of pip
ing with water, lifted and forced through it by
means of a pump, is not in the end cheaper than
maintenance of vast systemsof bitches which are
constantly out of repair and from which is inevi-
table waste of water Thisis becoming serious
question in California and the fruit growing re-
gions of Europe, where the population is becom-
ing more and more dense, the holdings smaller,
and the demand for water greater The answer
to this would be governed by the supply, the COST
the waste, the location, the use forwhch water is
needed and other conditions which will readily
occur to the thoughtful mind.
Among the kinds OF piping used to convey water
irrigation is cast iron pipe whichis said to be the
most durable of THERON pipes, but which requires
skill and care and the expense of experienced
plumbers to properly lay and calk it; wrought
iron pipe which screws together easily but costs
about the same at the foundry, while it is not as
durable spiral riveted pipe made of thin sheets OF
steel riveted together, which is very light and
comparatively cheap but which has not been