The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1897-12-08
SUMTER. S. c.. WEDNESDAY. DECEMBER g. 1897.
IRRIGATION.
Editor sautheru Farmer and Horticulturs. !:

Editor Southern Farmer and Horticulturist ::
To give you my experience with
irrigation it will be necessary to tell
you in the outset that I have been
experimenting with irrigation for
many years in a small but successful
way. But the great problem was to
elevate water in sufficient quantity to
meet the requirements of the crop.
This I found could not be done in the
majority Of instances, except by
means Of pump Of course irriga
tion by gravity is the most inex-
pensive, yot few are located favora,
bly, enough to practice it. The hy-
draulic ram is next in cheapness. but
many objections are found when re-
duced to practice, and finally the
pump is the last but unfailing resort.
The next great question with nae
vas what what power to apply.
Wind.would never do, as during 8
drought the atmosphere is invaria-
bly, calm. Steam was the next best
thing, but as this requires an eDgl
Deer who has to be licensed in this
State, and whose whole attention has
to be given to che engine, this would
make it rather expensive. | next
found that a gasoline engine would
overcome all the obstacles, and | ac-
cordiogly boughut Lombard e.
horse power gasoline engiue, and in
this found what / wanted. It can
be started at moments notice. It
takes no time to .ssteam up," aud
you can atop at the same notice
There is no loss in fuel 1t requires
no engineer, bat when fabricated will
run as long as there is oil in the
tank The pump use is a Victory"
so gallon per minute capacity, and
my outfit will elevate 10000 gallons
of water per day of 10 hours 62 feet
high
The water was used on small fruits
and vegetables. keeping in condition
Is acres of crops During last May
aud June (the season that our straw
berries are ripening) we had severe
drought. We had two and one. half
acres in this fruit depending wholly
on irrigation We put the water ON
the strawberries about the 1st of May
and kept them in a growing condi
ton till the Let of July without q
rain sufficient to lay the dust. Every
berry was developed to its full ca
pacity, and not one was lost by rot
But our land is rather heavy and sub.
ject to baking or crusting. and to
avoid this it became necessary that a
scooter plow be run between the
strawberry rows, opening . furrow,
which put the plants on a slight
ridge, and the water was permitted
to run 10 these rows at very slight
incline. 80 that no washing could
take place 1t will be noticed that
neither plants nor fruit were damp
ened, and consequently the fruit
could not rot. The water was per-
mitted to rnn in these furrows until
the ground was we'll saturated or go
that you could not walk between the
rows without miring. As soon as
the ground had dried sufficiently to
admit of the .cultivator. the Planet.
Jr., was run through the rows with
the wings turned inward, which COW
cred or filed up the furrow made BY
the scooter. About four applications
of water was sufficient. The cost OF
running the gasoline engine per day
was elk gallons of oil, at 10 cents
per gallon--60 cents. One aud some
time two men to distribute the water,
at 81 so for the two 1t cost in the
neighborhood of 81 per day two
days were required to water an acre.
All vegetables that needed water
were treated in similar manner, with
perfect satisfaction
CHARLES DEcKNER
Atlanta. Ga Oct 25, 1897.