Pike County press. (Milford, Pa.) 1895-1925, 1895-12-20
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IRRIGATION METHODS.
Ways and Means Adapted to the Wants OF
Eastern IIorticulturists.

lRRlGATlON METHODS.
Ways and Meaps Adapted to the JVants of
Eastern Horiicuiturists.
The eastern borticulturist has no use
fer the "fuuding" methCel, as it is not
adapted either to our crops or soil, and
is too wasteful of water to be used in
most localities. When the water supply
is ample good results will be obtained
if the water is applied from furrows
and allowed to soak into the ground.
When the land is level or nearly so, the
water can be run for considerable dis
tances, even in light sandy soil, and
will work its way downward and side
ways, where it will be found by the
ioots of plaats. The same method can
be used for watering orchards as is EN-
ployed in California. For closely plant
ed trees and bush fruits the water from
one furrow will water the rows on either
side, although in the case Of young trees,
especially il some distance apart, it will
be well to either have branch furrow
Iiven of to each tree or to have a fur
row for each row Of trees. While the
trees are small and before the roots have
filed the ground it will be we'll to make
a furrow about The tree about as large
as the circle Of the branches, into which
the water can he turned and from W hich
it viii soak into the ground where the
roots can readily obtain it.
Whether The bed" or "furrow" sys-
tenn should be used for vegetables viii
depend upon the lay of lie land and the
character Of the crop. According to L.
Il. Taft, who tells it in American Gar
doning, if the land has such surface
that The furrOws can lo run at an even
slope and at pitch not so great as to
wash, the furrow method will be the
simplest and will give as good results,
Whln the rows are five or more feet
apart, there should be furlow for each
row, lat if less than that, one furrow
will do for two lows. With uneven
ground, and especially for drilled crops
grown in narrow lows, the beds can be
ased TO advantage,
The beds should be thrown up by back
! fulrowiug and should be so located that
The ridge along the center will be level.
If not over 10 On ~ feet wide, the water
that is IUu along in a furrow at the crest
viii sCCp into aud moisten the soil to
that width, bat if much wider it will
he well to raise the level Cf the water
and allow il to Iun over the edge Of the
| fuuow. This method IF watering has
many Of tho defects pointed out in
"GC5d.ug, 80 but TO a less degree, and
these can lie almost entirely done away
| with if the ground is cultivated after
each watering. When the soil is light
and the supply Of water abundant, there
/ Will however, be less occasion for this
Tho irrigation Of land, whether level
~ in bed from water in burrows will
/ be greatly simrl ECd if the water is dis
! tIIlu td to the different parts Of the field
/ IN pi. Of some kind. If wooden fumes
arc used, there should be il slide oppo-
site the end of each furow, through
which the flow of the water can be reg
uiutCl as desired. When iron or cement
pipes are used to distribute tho water,
the hydrauts or faucets should be ar
ranged for the same purpose. in this
manner tho amount q flow can 10 rcgu-
la'od, and if the fulrows have suitable
siG-l Viii require hut lit le care.
or usa in orchards another method
may her-rered TO the distributing fur
rows, IL would consist in running the
water in pipes that viii stand slight
pressure. such as iron or cement, TO by
drants located at intervals Of perhaps
200 feet, and tEen with 100 feet of fire
engine hose, which can often he pur-
chased cheaply at secondhand, direct
the water into the furrows or basins that
have been made 20 receive it around
each tIee. For vegetables and fruits
where ful1ovs aro used the same means
Of Conveying tic water from the pipes
may he on ploycd, and thus one hydrunt
viii answer instead of a dozen or more
/ sluull ones