The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1900-02-15
SOUTHERN IRRIGATION.
Some Methods That Have Proved
Practicable and Satisfactory.

The question of irrigation Is one that
wherever 1t Is mentioned A practical
Georgia gardener has discussed In the
Atlanta Cultivator the subject OF 1rrl-
CATION In that state, and while he con-
cludes that as rule 1t Will not pay to
irrigate ordinary farm crops at the
south he gives some useful information
about methods, as follows:
Among the different methods OF lr-
rigation we hear a great deal about the
ram and the windmill. Now, While
these are lmirably adapted for sup
plying water for the house and lawn
and to irrigate small gardens, when we
come to field work they are out OF the
question, as the amount Of water
which they pump in a given space OF
time is so small that large storage
tanks are necessary In order to make
them at all operative, and storage
tank Is a source Of expense and worry
from start to finish.
The most satisfactory method Of ir-
rigation is the natural one Of damming
up or turning aside a stream and con-
veying the water to the field in main
or head ditch, from which it can be
turned where convenient into other
bitches or burrows, to be again sub
divided into smaller streams and turn
ed down between the rows Of growing
crops. Care should be taken when
planting a crop to be irrigated not to
have. the rows too long, for In this
event the upper end Of the rows will
become too wet before the lower cad Is
sufficiently irrigated. Where 1t is nee
essary to have long rows we arrange
for cross furrow and Il redistribution
Of water about every 80 yards.
1t IS absolutely necessary that the
land to be irrigated, especially bottom
lands, be we'll undetermined in order
to carry off any surplus water.
The next best method and one which
is proving quite n success in this To-
cality Is to put the water on by direct
pressure with n gasoline engine. \
three or six horsepower engine with
rotary or regular suction and force
pump will deliver 5000 gallons Of wa
ter per hour any ordinary distance at a
cost Of 81 per day and with very little
attention. If the engine is properly
regulated and fabricated, 1t will run
half n day without being looked after
although 1t Is better to notice 1t every
hour or so. One line of pipe to the
field Is al that is necessary, with cocks
to let the water out where 1t Is want
ed. Care should be taken to have q
proper basin to draw the water from
to prevent sand from getting into the
pump and wearing out the packing
The water should be run down be
tween the rows the same rs with the
natural system, because 1t Is less work
than to put 1t on with hose and
sprinkler and because there is less loss
from evaporation. while the benefit tC
the crop IS fully as great.
The steam engine. while it will pump
the water all right, requires the con
slant attention of one man. and the
cost Of fuel is much greater. Where
there Is an abundant supply of water
with considerable fall the new by
draulic engines may prove a success
but we cannot say, not having tried
them. With us 1t IS question OF
making a little water go long way
and for this purpose the natural sys
TEN supplemented by the gasoline en-
CINE gives us the best results