Mountain Home maverick. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1906-1911, 1911-02-23

'~'~oo '-c 6AOotCol oioPcs rom lnlS
supply ditch parallel levels or Dor
ders are run down the slope at in
tervals Of 40 to 90 feet dividing the
land into a series of fields. Each
land is made level between borders
so that the water can be made to
flow down the slope in a sheet ex-
tending across the land from border
to border. When the slope is ex-
eessive or irregular. contour Dor
ders are used.
II the feld is properly prepared the
water requires no attention from
the irrigator after he has turned il
into a border. until It has received
enough water when it is shut on and
turned into the next
If the soil is very light the lands
must be short or the upper end will
get toe much water, If the soil is
heavy they may be longer.
Lands vary in length from 800
to 1900 feet.
The border of levels dividing the
lands may be more or less perman-
ent, they are usually about one foot
high and two TO four feet wide at
the base. They are made by throwing
together two or four furrow slices
and smoothing them over with a
ridger. These borders are seeded the
same as the rest of the ground. They
are broad and low so that a crop can
be planted on them. and machinery
can be run over them without diff
ficulty.
In irrigat mr. l'rge stream Of
water should be used as the water
requires very little attention except
, to turn from one land to another.
The supply bitches are usually per-
manent with gates where the wat
er is turned into the lands.
This method is adapted to both
light and heavy soils. II the soil
!
over the surface quickly before it
g has time to soak in too deep. and
If the soil is heavy a smaller stream
can be used and be kept running
= for a long enough time to allow il
, to soak in sufficiently.
AS the irrigator does not have to
watch the water this slower process
o is not a great drawback.
The cost per acre for preparing
the land for border method of irri-
cation varies all the way from s. to
$50 per acre, depending upon the to-
y Biography and lay of the land.
This system is used to a consid
4 cradle extent in lower Boise valley
and in the vicinity of Weiser, Pay
II cite and Idaho Falls but it is no
+ generally used elsewhere. 1t seems t.
v be becoming more popular on &C
:, count of the labor saving in apply
r ing the water.
). In furrow irrigation the land
% graded so that the water cannot b
q turned from its course by higher o
sunever places. It is not necessary u
= have perfect slope, but there mus
always be fall enough so that tn
water will flow freely.
For small grain, alfalfa, and 9th
er grass crops. the burrows are mad
=, from Is inches to three feet apart
depending upon the character Of tn
soil. For this locality about two fee
y is the right distance. burrows ar
- made with a steel corrugator or wit
corrugator of home construction
For orchards. potatoes and othe
rowed crops, burrows are made wit
=. a shovel pillow or a cultivator wit
- wing attachments or with a liste
- plow
Head or supply bitches are ru
-, at right angles to the burrows an
are constructed along the highes
boundaries to the fields These ditch
es should have but a slight fall S
that when water is held up by tn
o., check box or a dam 1t will flow owe
=, the lower bank for a considerable
go length OF the ditch.
10 II is advisable to put checg boxe
he in the feed bitches so that the waite
can be held upon series of level
in The check box is to be supplied wit
a series Of flush boards which wi
a. hold the water up to any desire
- height and allow the surplus waite
to flood over and down the ditto
- to the next check box.
40 To divert the water from the fee
bitches lath boxes or sprouts shoul