The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1895-12-21
IRRIGATION METHCps.
Ways and Means Adapted TO the Wants oi
Eastern HoreIeuIturists.


The eastern borticuiturisr has no use
for the flooding" method, as il is not
adapted either to cur 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 burrows
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
viii work its way downward and side
ways, where it will be found by the
roots Of plants. 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 viii water the rows on either
side, although in the case Of young trees,
especially if some distance apart, it will
be well 20 either have a branch furrow
given off to each tree. or to have fur
row for each row Of trees. While the
trees are small and before the roots have
filed the ground it viii be well to make
a furrow about the tree about as large
as the circle Of the branches. into which
the water can be turned and from which
it will soak into the ground where the
roots can readily obtain it.
Whether the bed or "furrown sys-
tenn should be used for vegetables will
depend upon the lay of the land and the
character of the crop. According to L.
r. Taft, who tells it in American Gar
dening, if the land has such surface
that the burrows can be run at an even
slope and at pitch not so great as to
wash, the furrew method will be the
simplest and will give as good results
When the rows are five or more feet
apart, there should be furrow for each
row, but II less than that, one furrow
will do for two rows With uneven
ground, and especially for drilled crops
grown in narrow rows, the beds can be
used to advantage.
The beds should be thrown up by back
furrowing and should be SO located that
the ridge along the center will be level.
If not over 10 or IL feet wide, the water
that is run along in a furow at the crest
will seep into and moisten the soil to
that width, hut if much wider it will
be we'll to raise the level Of the water
and allow it to run over the edge of the
furrow. This method of watering has
many Of the defects pointed out in
flooding, but to a less degree, and
these can be 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 .ess occasion for this.
The irrigation Of land whether level
Or in beds, from water in burrows will
be greatly simplified if the water is dis
tributed to the different parts Of the field
in pipes of some kind. II wooden fumes
are used, there should be slide oppo-
site the end of each furrow, through
which the flow Of the water can be reg
ulated as desired When iron or cement
pipes are used to distribute the water,
the hydrants or faucets should be ar
ranged for the same purpose. In this
manner the amount of flow can be regu-
lated, and if the burrows have a suitable
slope will require but little care
For use in orchards another method
may be preferred to the distributing fur
rows. 1t would consist in running the
water in pipes that will stand a slight
pressure, such as iron or cement, to by
drants located at intervals of perhaps
200 feet, and then with 100 feet of fire
engine hose, which can often be pur-
chased cheaply at secondhand, direct
the water into the burrows or basins that
have been made to receive it around
each tree. For vegetables and fruits
where burrows are used the same means
Of conveying the water from the pipes
may be employed, and thus one hydrant
will answer instead of dozen or more
small ones.