The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1904-11-16

derground, passes down the slope of the
slope of the land diminishes toward the
south the water continues to accumu-
late, gradually fills the SOIL and in some
instances flows over the surface of some
of tine lower lands during July and Au-
gust.
Subirrigation was formerly regarded
as an important economy in the cult
walton of this land but time has proven
that its benefits were of temporary
character and have been followed by
highly injurious results. One farm to
which considerable attention has been
given furnishes such a striking exam
pie of the process of seepage that its
results will be here described. 1t con-
sists of so acres and subs to such an
extent that the south part for few
vars past has produced no valuable crop.
1t was formerly noted for the excellent
quality, as well as large quantity, of
hops which were produced, but in recent
years a portion of this field has been
so injured by seepage that the plants
have been dug out and the land seeded
to grass. Some attempt at drainage
was made, and for this purpose a small
ditch was opened from the farm to-
ward the south and extends to Wide
,snb af
cured for the purpose. This drain, how
ever, had water at or near the surface.
On June 20 water was found within
foot of the surface at the south end OF
the farm, and on July it was standing
on the surface at the same place. Moth
ing of value was growing upon the
south 20 acres. During the first part
of the season water was found constant
ly rising in the soil until on the date
mentioned it had reached the surface
Mosquitoes and snipe, with unerring in
stinct, found this homelike retreat.
This water comes from the subsoil.
rises constantly, and reaches out into
various portions of the field. The con-
ditions on Mob Hill We're far different
Every plant, tree, and shrub received
its water from that applied to the sur
face. There was no subbing there. The
utmost luxuriance and fruitfulness
greeted the eye on every side. When
we compare this and the other land,
in which ground water does not con-
tribute to the supply of moisture, with
the uneven and patchy productiveness
of land which subs, we are forced to
the conclusion that subirrigation for
this land is a delusion and a veritable
snare to the unwary irrigator. This
farm belongs to the area in which the
gravelly soil is within l to feet of
the surface. The gravel is found deeper
toward the south end and shades off
into the sandy loan which is character
istic of the low part of the valley.
The question arose as to the source
of the water which fills the ground of
this farm. 1t was quite persistently
held by some that it came from the
east side, for the reason that no trou-
BILE was experienced from this cause
until irrigation began on the land oi-
joining it on the east The soil there
is open and gravelly and received I'M
measured quantities of water, accord
ing to the best evidence at hand. Tie
topography of the surrounding land,
however, did not suggest nor sustain
this view and, in order to secure relia-
BILE information which would help solve
the question, borings were made across
the farm for the purpose of determin-
ing the water line. The results of these
measurements indicate that the water
comes mainly from the west and north
west and passes in a southeasterly Ill
rection through the soil. There IA
short slope on the adjoining lani at the
east from which some seepage water
tiujs its way westward to the farm.
The land at the northwest rises rapidly
fer a mile or more and soon reaches 1;
point 100 feet higher than the farm. so
that all soil water reaches the fam
under good head. Some conception of
this head, which is forcing the water
mt, the land, was obtained from the
following test: A hole 20 inches ..eep
was bored to the gravel on the west
SIDE of the road and then drilled foot
deeper into the gravelly subsoil. Water
at once rose to near the surface and