Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1910-10-02

That New Mexico's irrigated val
lcys are In need Of more practical
intelligent. industrious farmers and
that the irrigated farm is no place for
the Weary Willie were the keynotes
of a most interesting address delivered
before the Eighteenth National lrriga-
ton Congress at Pueblo by Gen. b. j.
Viljoen OF the Mesilla valley. His
address which was on the subject
practical Irrigation In New Mexico, '
was one Of the best heard at the
gathering. II was as follows:
Mr.. President. Ladies. and Gentle
ment. it is not without embarrassment
that / address this large and intelli-
gent audience. After listening to the
splendid o~ratory yesterday and this
morning by such able gentlemen as
Governor Shaforth, Governor Adams,
Hon. W. j. Bryan. and others, |, as
a humble tiller Of the soil. feel about
the size of a carrot.
There are many methods of irriga-
ton in vogue In this western country.
In New Mexico, however, we follow
more universally the method of com
plete flooding by borders and checks.
especially where we find the non-por-
Gus kind Of soil. such as we have in
the Itio GrAndC valley.
There is also a method of irrlgating
hy flooding where a lighter and more
| norous soil Is found. This method,
however. Is carried out by a system of
~latcrals, and bitches without borders
being used. This latter is of a more
susceptible character. absorbing the
water more readily, and therefore, the
irrigation Is done more rapidly n
without the need of checks or borders.
There Is yet a third method Of irri-
CATION, which Is done by burrows,
which are drawn from the laterals
and so arranged through the field and
at such distances apart that the water
which is carried down through these
burrows soaks through and is called
by some people. sub-irrigation, and is
more universally used where clear
water Is found.
Under the head OF su%b-irrigation
may also be mentioned the method
used by irrigating by submerged pipes
or tiles. or by the use Of the sub-soil
pillow. With this system, however l
am not familiar.
In some of the southern states, 1
believe mainly in Georgia where cell
cry Is extensively grown. a system OF
overhead irrigation is used. by means
OF perforated piping which are laid
about five or six feet apart.
These perforated pipes laid over
head across the field all omenatc from
"a large or main pipe. which takes the
place OF a lateral ditch. and when ir-
rigation is required. the water Is
turned into the main pipe with suf-
hcicnt force or flow 10 evenly distrl-
butte Il through the smaller and per-
foratcd pipes. giving a sort OF rain
Ike results or a sprinkling OF the
water over the fields.
As stated before. the method or
system with which we, Of southern
New Mexico. are most familiar Is the
method Of flooding by h use of bord-
and checks.
The first and most important essen
,ial which the farmer must observe Is
the proper preparing OF his field. such
as the laying out and constructing OF
latcrais and borders.
Al progressive farmers now make
use Of an engineering level. which
can be purchased FOR about
OF $500. by using the level the
Is enabled 10 ascertain the
general slope OF HIS land and TO dis
sover where the highest points are.
The lateral bitches are laid out on
he highest parts Of the field. observ-
ng always hat sufficient fan Is pos
iblc TO carry the water from the main