The Somerset reporter., 1897-07-29
MOISTURE FOR THE CROPS.
Water Stored Up For Use During Periods
of Drought

"&ttT bbOTed I y TOT curing
of Drought
What has retarded irrigation in the
east Is that the east is blessed with more
rain during the growing season than
some portions of the west and that each
farm has its own peculiarities of sur
face, location, texture of soil, etc,
which have been obstacles to the gener
al adoption of a system of irrigation,
the expense in some locations being
much greater than in others, but irriga-
ton has been tested on small plots
with success and in manner to enoour-
age those who have made experiments
to believe that some method will yet be
devised which will present itself in a
favorable light to all, says the Phila-
delphia Record, authority for the follow
ing
Water may be stored in the soil by
judicious blowing and cultivation to
large extent, but its use and loss must
be governed by the manner of growing
the crop. Farmers are better educated
on cultivation than was the case pre-
ivously, owing to experiments at the
stations, which have been published and
spread broadcast, but cultivation does
not save all the water, large portion
flowing away which should be retained
for use during dry periods. In many
sections this is being done with wind
mills, which are now so cheap as to be
within the reach of every farmer, and
with them irrigation depends upon the
conformation of the surface of the soil.
Water is pumped into a reservoir To-
GATED upon high point, the water
flowing where it is required by gravity.
1t is estimated that an ordinary 10
foot diameter wheel will raise sufficient
water in eight hours to irrigate one
third of an acre an inch in depth, or
that with a velocity of wind of 10
miles an hour 10 foot wheel will
raise 8 gallons of water 80 feet in one
minute, or i 140 gallons per hour.
On every farm where a windmill is
used the additional cost Of storing wa
ter other than that required for stock is
more windmills is less than the loss
from drought Where there is a moder-
ate rainfall the supply of moisture nee
essary to assist through dry period is
but little, and excellent results have
been obtained by the use of large tanks,
but small reservoir can be construct
ed at a moderate cost. A tank 10 feet
high and 10 feet in diameter holds
1915 gallons of water, but as reser-
voir can be provided to hold ten times
that much water at but little more ex-
pense the storage supply could be made
ample This does not imply that one Is
praotioing irrigation, for to do SO large
storage reservoirs are necessary, but at
a small cost the farmer can protect
himself to certain extent against
drought. On fields of corn that have
been grown by listing the centers be-
tween the rows were opened with a one
horse pillow and water conducted so as
to flow down the drains Before the
ends of the rows are reached the ground
becomes we'll saturated, and a small
piece may be irrigated each day. 1t
must not be overlooked that the capa-
ply, as the pumps can furnish more
water than the farmer may wish to use,
and as tank or reservoir may be drawn
off and filled several times during the
season the amount of water used will
be considerable. Attention is called to
this matter, as the cost is but little, and
farmers will find it an advantage to ex-
pertinent in that direction where it can
conveniently be done.