The Delta independent., 1902-10-24
WIS. !. co... !. r.., w.,er.

An experiment was undertaken with
the three following points in view. First,
the development OF q water supply ffem
the underhow in sufficient quantities for
irrigation purposes. Second. a test Of
the efficiency and economy OF different
makes OF pumps. Third, the determip-
alton Of the cost of irrigating different
crops by pumping. under varying con
ditions OF drouth. One six-inch we'll
forty eight feet deep, with slotted
strainer located in a twelve foot gravel
stratum furnished over 800 gallons OF
water minute or something over 6.4OO
cubic feet an hour at the rate OF n
cubic feet second
At the end OF thirty hour coniinu-
Gus run there was no sign OF diminu-
tion of the water. During this run 63
acres OF alfalfa were irrigated in % houre
and As minutee at a cost OF 81 30 an acre
for fuel. This field was irrigated on
June 9th with river water but had re-
ceived no water from that date until ir-
riga;ed by pumping on july 30th, 90
days later. The ground was very dry
and cracked open quite a depth. Since
at this season OF the year alfalfa is usu-
ally irrigated once in from II toll days,
it is quite probable that twice the quan-
tity Of water was required FOR the irri-
Cation that would have been necessary
under normal conditions.
Taking this as probably true, the cost
Of irrigating alfuifG would amount to
about 81 cents an acre under normal
conditions of dryuess and frequency. Ii
is no more than just thu, l should add
that this run WIS made with inferior
fuel and The cost is likely to be less
rather than more. The following tig
ures are based on a cost of about 81 -
cord For wood. Computations from
the data obtained from the tests that
have been made will no doubt be OF in
terest, though incomplete, and are as
follows:
Cos, Of feel for iTrisaiing alfalfa,
covering the surface OF the ground:
One inch deep 1875 an acre. Two in
chcs deep 39c an acre. Two and u hall
inches deep 80. an acre. Three inches
deep IS y c an acre. Three and a third
inches deep 80: an acre. Six inches
deep sl.l1 an acre. Six and two-thirds
inches deep 81 30 an acre. Area that
could be irrigated in twenty four hours.
covering the surface OF ihs. ground.
One inch deep - acres. Two inches
deep 81 acres. Two and half inches
deep l6 4-5 acres. Three inches deep
IL gcres. Three and a third inches
deep II 81 acres. Six inches deep :
acres. Six ana two-thIrcs inches deep
6 3 acres.
Size Of farm that could be irrigated
by running twenty four hou. s each day
il an irrigation he given to the success
i've iseids every sooeseeu tiayr. covering,
the surface OF the ground: Two inches
deep lo4 acres. Two and i halt inches
deep 235i5 acres. Three inches deep
l96 acres. Three aud q third inches
deep l16 , 3 acres. Six inches deep 9S
acree. Six and two-,hirds inches deep
ss l5 acres. Size OF farm that could
be irrigated by running ten hours each
day il an irrigation be given to the sue
cessive fields every fourteen days. COW
eripg the surface Of the ground. Two
inches deep l22L acr-s. Two aud a
half inches deep 9S acres. Three inches
deep 81 . 3 acres. Three and third
inches deep 73ls acres. Six inches deep
10 - acres. Six aud two-thirds inches
deep B acres.-J.J. Vernon. in Field
aud Farm.