The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1897-09-03
IRRIGATING SYSTEM.
Some OF tbs Many Ways Used for
Watering Dry Land.


Watering Dry Land.
srropos Of the efficient artesian'
vel system in use in these Islands is
tbe following description of 'warping'
given in the Kansas Farmer: System
asic control OF The overflow Of the Nile
ana the utilization of the load of sedi-
meut which il was caused to deposit
upon the soil made Egypt the granary
Of Europe for centuries. It enabled her
10 maintain a great population and de-
veiope a wonderful civilization. For
without the Nile the culture Of Egypt
would have been impossible. The Nile
rsve the idea OF irrigation and fertili-
zsrion. from its overflow, to the world
II was utilized by the first prehistoric
settlers in the valley Of Egypt, and
from thence the idea spread 10 Asia
and Europe, and today the great rivers
81 the greatest continent are made 10
enrich vast regions which yield mar
Vicious harvests in response even 10
the crudest efforts Of man.
The waters of the Nile and the
Gauges are so rich in suspended mat
ter that il occasionally amounts 10 one
one-huudredth of their volume, and
sometimes one in 200. The Hoang Ho
The Sorrow Of Han'-so named
from the destructive overiows with
which il foods vast districts and de-
strovs untold numbers of human be-
fngs. carries down great quantities Of
soil which is utilized TO some extent
for fertilization in a crude way. The
CAPABILITIES Of the great river of China
for sedimentary fertilization are I'M
limited. for the yellow soil or loess
which is carried down is marvelously
rich soil. Some attempt at its utiliza-
ton has been made and with won
derful success. considering the crude
and uuscientifc methods applied.
The system Of overfiowing irrigation
and fertilization from the deposit of
sediment is what is called ''warping."
The suspended solid matter is of i'm
portance not only for manure, but for
a natural addition TO the soil to be ir-
rigated. One Of the best examples of
scientific warping is practiced in Eng
land. on the River Trent. between
Humber and Gainsborough. Embark
ments along the river were construct
ed centuries ago 10 protect the land
from the Entertainments of the tide
as ii flowed up the river and raised its
level. so that it overflowed the low
lands bordering it.
a century ago a plan was begun Of
admitting the tidal water of the river
with its load Of mud to overflow the
barren soil and periodically deposit
fresh layer Of silt upon it. This system
has now been made very elaborate, so
that by means Of sluices. gates, con-
Quits. warping banks, etc, the mud
laden water is flowed over land or
fields desired to be fortified, and is
held until II deposits its load Of sedi-
ment went II is allowed to return to
the river with the falling tide. So
great is the quantity of solid matter in
the water that from one to three feet
has been deposited where it was de-
sired 70 make new soil. from 10 to
L tides being used during one spring
season
The art is now so well understood
that the expert warp farmer may tenn
per his land as he pleases. He can ad-
nit the water so as TO deposit only a
sufficient quantity Of mud to act as a
manure. or he can get so much as to
make new soil. In the latter case
the overflow will need to be repeated
frequently during the year. perhaps.
as each tide deposits about one-eighth
Of an inch Of silt This silt is exceed
inrlv rich. and viii bear abundtnaly
arv kind OF crop.
Warning is reduced to q science by
TIE farmers who thus fertili7e their
lends and the peculiar procedure is
also vel understood. Such q system
could 10 adonted regarding the Nissis-
sinni overflow. with the proper modi-
scations that the management of its
necUliar conditions would REQUIRE.
These could only be learned bv ex-
ne-ienoa ~ course. following the lines
- v-e''-inown nrincinles which have
hner learned NV evrerierce with over
fcw fertilization in other countries.