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 COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT: 
 
IRRIGATION GUIDE 
 
 A concise tivatise 611 IRRIGATION. Designed 
 for the practical Farn er, \vl o is c«»i vinced of tin* ad- 
 vantages of irrigation, Ui t uYes not know how to 
 practice it. 
 
 C" y-ighu-d, 1895 byA. J.Kenney. 
 LIVINGSTON, MONTANA. 
 
4-,' 
 
 nidation 
 
 toe CHEAPEST 
 
 IRRIGATION 
 
 Can be l<:-d 
 
 with GASOLINE ENGINE and pump. 
 
 \vo can furnish Engines from 2 to 50 horse power 
 tint are RELIABLE DURABLE, AND 
 
 DOONOMICAL. 
 
 ( 'St of operating, one cent per horse power per 
 hour. We faroish free with every Engine an 
 
 Electric BATTERY to explode the Gas, that will 
 1 ist 4 mouths without any attention then it can 
 b renewed a .d wdl last 4 months more, and so on 
 for all time. We do not use a red hot tube to 
 (-vilo'de the gas that has to be replaced with a new 
 one almost daily. 
 
 Foos Gas Engine Co., 
 
 SPRINGFIELD, OHIO. 
 
INTRODUCTION. 
 
 When we reflect, kind reader, upon the 
 Wonder fid growth of population of the Tinted States, 
 : that we are nearly doubling in numbers every 
 t'yenty years aid when . we remember, that the 
 science olide age has uanish- d pestilence, and that, 
 the hu.nanuv : ot" the age is fast vetoing war, then 
 will w'V <( ' ,> t n *t .the limit. <»i toed supply is The 
 on'y liihit to the in r a's of our population. 
 The^iiUmb r of a "res ui ; < •licultural land, 
 ba'-inot be doubled .tV>rjeae : h supc.ssive generation, 
 Tile available Land, is now pr;ctioa!ly .occupied. 
 Tiien how snal lMC.d produ.lion, k ep pace with 
 t!ie increase of population? The question >s 
 answered in the m>gic word li^iivrA T1JX. 
 
 Without water, neither plan' nor Auimil lite can 
 exist. Neither can a Plant attain perfection, it* 
 
 deprived of sufficient moisture at any stage of its 
 growth. Drought is the most prolific cause of 
 
 failure of crops, waile irrigation not onlV makes 
 crops sure but doubles, an 1 q la Iruples the yield. 
 
 T.10 ISjcretary oj Agriculture says, 
 <c Cangres3, reahYmg t'nt [rr g „ a ki is i,i a sense, 
 a n:\v agricultural qa.'srio.i. .ia-5 e!iar_*U the 
 d3parta1e.1t, with its e > ni 1 r it' > 1, X >; 1' >r t 1 e 
 West alou?, but for t'i 3 £^ra; w? ; i. Tu3re 
 are S^asxii, w'.ira a lit ;1 j w.i';v, p.- >p3re.- dis- 
 
tributed, would add iminensly, to th© products 
 East of the Mississippi." 
 
 There are thousands of Farms east of the Miss- 
 issippi, that could be irrigated with small ex- 
 pense, compared to the advantage to be derived. 
 Corn lands, that usually make 40 or 50 bushels 
 per acre, would with one or two irrigating?', during 
 the dry time in July and Augii8t,maKe 80 to 10O 
 bushels per. acre. Wheat lands, producing 10 
 
 to 20 bushels per. acre, ought with one irrigating, 
 make 30 to GO bushels per. acre, and so on. 
 through the list. " 
 
 It is not uncommon in the \v<st, to see Irish 
 Potatoes weighing 3 and 4 poinds each, or wheat 
 turning off -lO aid CO bushels per.' '\ acre. and 
 Oats K) bushels per. acre, with no apparent ad - 
 vantage, except water when needed. 
 
 This little work, however is intended for the , 
 practical Farmer, . EUst, West, North, or fc'cuth, 
 who is convinced' of the advantage of Irrigation, 
 but does not 1 now' how to practice it. 
 
SURVEYING. 
 
 • ' ••• ■ • "i 
 
 The first, thing in Ditch construction, is to 
 survey : and stake off your ditch. 
 You ncea 1 not j>ay a professional surveyor for do- 
 ing it, bat i:ui do. it y oar- seif. j '■• 
 For .4 surveying instrument, use ;i board, six- 
 tec i and >» .v hiiif feut Jong, eig! it : inches wide, 
 and oif men liueK wiiu diier ^mugot edge. Toe 
 oth r edge should be dressed i»i'iy leaving the 
 bo i id eigiit i jehes wide iir the d&lxterj i^nc] sloping 
 (foAM to uoout i<*ur inches at ,eaeh. ejid. This to 
 m iKe it light, and.Jeavt' it strong^.;to;avoid.spring 
 -ing. ■> Then naif: on e.n-h «i»d .ft f " th • bo;nd, a 
 leg, ab-o.it t-iirtv inches i^iig^-U/c leg4 isliould he 
 exactly t:ie saine length, i'i"? .,.. • 
 
 ••-•' Xow you : Nfc|4iit to find a- perfectly ,h.'vel *sur- 
 •facj, for adjusting Vo'iiV s/frj1 1 v V on 7 , so -board. 
 Perhaps tax easiest- and niu>sr simple way, i-> to 
 finl ashallow pool of standing water*, and drive 
 down two pegs, ju'st gixtjoii aril oae hi'f feet a £ >art. 
 
and just to a level with the waters surlaceu 
 place the legs of the board, on these pegs, 
 adjust your spirit level, on the cer 
 
 of The board, so the bulb indicates level, fasten 
 tbe level securely, so that it eannot jar loose, 
 or vary. Now your surveying board is simply a 
 big level, on legs but you do not want to make 
 your ditch level, :so having decided the amount of 
 fall you wish to giyy .your ditch, say ( me eighth 
 q| ainMoMW xnKi.ixoa, tiien, you want to saw off 
 that ...mu^.vi .from on<; l*g oi\ your hoard. Then 
 
 mar.v %-i\&i end S. for short, and in. surveying, 
 alhvavs riin, tho' short end, joward the the head, 
 or source of the ditch. 
 
 NviW, fuit a sertH, in < ach « ud of the board, for 
 sights.. ,. Let the sight ou S. end, Ktnnd one 
 eighth" iiv.t. liight r li. .n j .u : . £J#ht ou the other 
 end-. See FU^ l. , ...:.;.,.. 
 
 ICty^ u have faithfully followed instructions, you 
 have a surveying board that will do the work 
 just as correctly, as the most expensive surveying 
 instrument made. 
 
 Now 4 to survey a elite}.. Commence at the 
 
 highest point of land tuat you propose to cov- 
 er with yonr ditch. Set the nurveyiug board 
 with S. end |» anting toward tW source of 
 water supply. AIoac >. vtuV" until level is indi- 
 cated. T.ien have your ije-pcr drive a stake at 
 . the foot of S. cud. If the land i» sloping, drive 
 the pegs on the lower side. Then move up 
 settiug thvi long leg at the stake, just wiiere 
 t«e S. leg was. move S. le g a bout until level 
 
h lio.it od, then arird stake as be.or,:. The 
 ikes arc to mark your survey so you can find 
 ■and follow it afterward. 
 
 In surveying across a swag, or depression, 
 WJdoh you mean to fill, or ;i hollow of gulch, 
 wii.'i y ki mean to fiiim^, or a steep hill side, 
 that you can. ot stan 1 on, you irocjeed^i folows. 
 Take a o >.«ri tarce feet :ong, .ma i..ree or. our 
 inches wide, Lot. at S. end of surveying- board. 
 and mark a spot for a target, just as high 
 
 frj.ii thy ground, as the top of the sight on 
 the S. end of surveying board. . 
 
 Now with the S. .end setting at the last 
 peg drove, turn the other end until the board 
 p uats straight across \he swag, gu'c'i, or b: nk. 
 L )\ver, or raise the long leg, uutil h\el. send 
 a mm across with the Target, let-ibim mo e it 
 a)out. until the target comes in -dine wit): the 
 sig its. Taen drive a peg at the foot of the 
 target. Tim 11 move up to this peg and pr. ee<d 
 
 as before. ' - 
 
 In surveying for Flumes, vou should if nos- 
 sible, give one inch fall to the rod. In order that 
 less, lumber, and work wdi be required in its 
 c mtruction. . •. 
 
 An 1 that less weight of water will be on 
 t'lJ L'l l 11 '. A:! a gkvc.J .v.^ i ■ o." \.;:'.0l\ fl.OWi 
 
 in >; th:>i;i a flu u ■ at; the rat<- of two f el 
 p.v. 3e3.)i(, would b» r.'lu-.'i in weight one h If, 
 if se it tirj.iga at tid rate o2 four foot per. sec. 
 
Then to purvey with more fall, raise the 
 aiAt on S. ntud of board, a« much as you want 
 to increase the fall. Having finished your sur- 
 vey to the stream^ you are ready to begin the 
 construction of your ditch. 
 
 Ditch Construction. 
 
 First, it is necessary to deride on the size 
 of your ditch. In the \V«*t, one in h of wa 
 
 -ter, is calculated to irrigate uiie a«re of land. 
 
 Water is measured thus, in Montana. A 
 
 box is constructed, with a Head Gate, so as to 
 leave an opening of six inch* s, between the bottom 
 of the box, and the lower edgo of the gate. '1 he 
 box: is placed level, and so :rraug«d that the 
 stream, in passing through the aperture, is 
 
 not obstructed by back water, or an ethly below 
 tiM g:'t«\ but before entering trie opening the 
 stream should be brought to an eddy, and j«tand 
 t'Tee inches on the Head Gate, a. id above the 
 t »p of the opening. The nuiuher of square 
 
 inches contained in the opening, is the meas- 
 ure of the water. 
 
 l\y this why of me;«sureiug, it vill take about 
 t'w« square inches of ditch, t» carry oii« square 
 incU of water, giving one eighth inch fall to 
 the rod. Of course, a ditch will carry more 
 
 or less, according to the fall you give it, but the 
 
more /all, the longfi 1 the ditch will be. and in 
 land that in liable jjy wash, ou 1 eighth of an 
 ino i tp tiit rod, vyili L>. .a«/ut j ii^li L. But if 
 
 n.ossary, water can be made to run with one 
 thirty second of an inch fall to th^ rod. 
 We wjlj suppose how ever, that you want to 
 irigate eighty acres, and will requite a ditch 
 two feet wide, and nine inches deep. 
 
 Now, begin at the last survey peg, which 
 is at tb* 1 waters edge, and on a 1*'\ *J with it. 
 Dig and shovel out a ditch ol above dimensions, 
 until it is made .\w:.v from tin fn**, .-. u 01,10 
 -round that can be worked with a team and 
 plow. 
 
 Then use four steady horses, and a road, or gra- 
 ining plow, start in where you hit off diging, 
 M .nd plow deep, fdlow the suiTry pegs, just 
 j 1 wing them up. 
 
 Lay off as long a stretch of the ditch, as 
 s H*ins best. Then plow buck in the same 
 
 furrow, ami if not thoroui<li;y plowed as deep 
 as nine inches, keep plowing in same furrow, 
 until it is. Then plow two other furrows 
 
 the same way. 
 
 Now to clean out the loose dirt, take a big 
 solid log, ten feet long, that will square two 
 
 t\e\ hew square then cut each cud Just in the 
 shape of a big turning plow. 
 
 MaKe the bottom a little concave, so as to 
 leave the points press well to the ground. 
 
In the top side of the log, and at each end, 
 put in goo.l strong Iiooks, or eyes to pull by. 
 Then if you like, you cau put on handles to 
 hold it steady. 
 
 Niw, hitch your four horses, on this and 
 urag through the ditch, then put to the other 
 t ud, and drag back when you will have most 
 of the loose dirt out. 
 
 After this, you shonld go over with pick, 
 shovel, and surveying board, : nd finis'i up, 
 
 by working off thi* high j hecs. 
 
 Set tin* sufv« yi ig bo«-rd iu the bottom • of 
 tiie ditch with S. end just nine inches below 
 the water level, and if the other end is too 
 high, dig down until level is indicated. smooth 
 off between the two leg«, as near as you cmi by the 
 eye. Then move up, setting S. end just where 
 ttie long leg was, and proe« «'d as btjore, 
 and so on thio igh,as far as you have plowed. 
 
 Then turn in a little wat»r, to test if it 
 will run, which it will be sure to do, if you 
 have, made no mistakes. 
 
 It is well to all ways bt* careful, and sys- 
 tematic, remembering that what is worth doing 
 at all, is worth doing well. 
 
 j)i> not lay off too much at once, but rather 
 finish up as you go, and test it by runing water 
 through it. 
 
 A large proportion ; of irrigation ditches made, 
 are made the first time, up hill. In such cases, 
 
there is ho other rtmedv, but to make a hew 
 
 ditch 
 
 H 'fore lt< >iriLT too far, put in a good substantial 
 Had Gate to let the water in or turn it out. It 
 : ■'; > 1 1 rl be put in so that it will not wash out, 
 and should be of sufficient height to prevent 
 overflow. 
 
 If a larger ditch is desired, tlmn'the one de- 
 s -ribed, there is probably no better wry, than 
 to use ordinary R. R. s Tapers, f'cr moving the 
 lo :se dirt. Three term:-, w'th driver*, and one 
 man to fill scrapers, is about the fctst cr. w. Tie 
 drivers dumping the scrapers. This way, the 
 
 ditch should be plowed as wide as wanted. . 
 then scraped out, then plowed again and scraped 
 dumping in the vacant places, to make a solid 
 bank of the loose dirt. 
 
 Which will require about three plowing* 
 arid scrapings. 
 
Flumes. 
 
 We now suppose that you have finished the 
 «.itch to the baiiK of a gulch, that you want 
 to flume, the lumber to be used, for the size 
 ditch under consideration, should be twelve or 
 fourteen inches wide, and one and a half 
 inches thick, and sixUcu and a half teet long 
 for bottoms. Ten or twelve inches wjb*». one 
 inch thick, and ?ixte<>n and a half f < < t I< ng, for 
 sides. Four inches s<j uare, fur uprights, and 
 two by four inches for caps. The ground sills 
 should be six by six, or round timbers of simular 
 size,, hewed on top side. Fig. 2. shows manner 
 of constructing suppoits. 
 
 Fig. 2. 
 
tfof convenience 'in sawing eloped of up- 
 rights you should make a big wooden square, 
 a* shown in Fig. 3. make it oi six , inch 
 board, the blade sixteen feet, long. 
 T mgue four feet, and sliding tongue 
 t ro feet long. Mark it off correctly in 
 t jot, inches, and fractions. 
 
 Now taKe a> log or timber, six 
 or eight feet long, and Lum across the 
 ditch, at the comim neement of the 
 flume, this to anchor tin f mmc to. \ ut 
 it down one and a half inches b. low u.e 
 bottom of ditch. The top side of l«g 
 should have a smooth face, to nail the 
 bottom of flume to.. After it is in place 
 and level, tan p in dirt, 1. vel with the 
 f.ice of log. Now, with - Iraight edge, 
 sivteei and a half feet I i^*. M*r«a-;e 
 i'«»r tne place to s<>t the bill, ior . - 
 the first upii.h. timbers to set |2 1 ^ i 
 
 Oi. M •■•• -^ »re on a hvel, set the 
 sill in the g t*n<l, set it. level 
 and squ: re a toss. Now with Fig.3. 
 the straight edge, on the first 
 rtN. M^» c nr«> the height from 
 se ond sill, up to level with 
 the first sill, say three feet and 
 •fie inch. 
 
 'Hien get the slide tongue ef 
 tn " square, at three feet, leaving 
 
 r~T~3~T~T 
 
off the" oiic inch, for fall to the fhimU . 
 
 Now to g« t the slope, to saw the uprights, 
 plac^ the square on the timber, with the top 
 and of timber, at -one on slide tongue, and 
 the other- end at two on stationary tongue of 
 square. MarK on the heavy lines as 
 
 shown in Fig. 3. Saw, and moiv 
 
 tise on cap, x hieh should be two and a half 
 feet long, le.tvng three inches outside each mor- 
 tise, naii on bra es, as si .own in -Fig. 2. 
 Now set up in posith.-n.aid toe nail l.-otton s to. 
 sill. Then i an <n lie bottom of 1 ume, 
 
 and set a biuCe under the center of flume bot- 
 tom. Now measure, and set the sill, for the 
 next set of uprights. Then with your straight 
 edge, and level, find the distmce*' between the 
 level of sills number three, and sill number ,two, 
 say two feet and eleven inches. 
 Leave off one inch for iall,tak,e two feet ten 
 inches, and add to the height of the last set 
 of uprights, which was three feet. That gives 
 five feet ten inches, take off one inch for fall, 
 set slide; tongue at five feet nine .inches, lay 
 / mil- square on the timber, top. end as before 
 aeid bottom rmd at two feet six inches. 
 C-'ying wide- base, as -the uprights get longer*? 
 Mark, snd saw, mortise, brace, set,., up - and nail 
 ;w before, and so on until yon r^ach the oVep- 
 etft part of the gulch. •; - . '-. 
 
 Vfe Kfv suppose, thr=.t at the dcepet-'t part- 
 f the gulch, your uprights are sixteen feet 1 ■■ jig 
 
fiiejisUre anil set the sill fof tbe ascending' - side. 
 Find difference )n levels uf sills, say iuui' feet. 
 NaW to get height of upr.guts, * take four 
 from sixteen, equal twelve. take one inch off for 
 Fall. Set slide tongue, at eleven fret and eleven 
 holies place s-qurre on timber, with top end at 
 one. And three feet six inches at bottom. Mark, 
 saw, mortise and cap, hi ace, a t up, toe nal, 
 nail on Flume bottom. Measure and set next 
 
 siil, find dif'f renc< in ],v In o ,vil<; sVy thiee 
 feet ten n h s; wh-eh t: k*- r in t ' o hi- hi of 
 last uprigh s, (e.e\en feet and eUv\n i ehes,) 
 equals eight feet and one inch. Take off one 
 i ich for fa'l. Set the s^u .re at ei ht feet* Lay 
 t e square on timber at one top. And three at 
 b >ttom mark, saw, mort's-, c^p, fra-e and set 
 u:». Toe nail , nail on Flume bottom. Measure 
 and set n *xt sill find d i r nee i 1 vels. Say 
 throe feet and eleven inches, which take from 
 eight feet, equals four feet and one inch. Leave 
 off one inch for Fall. Set square at Four 
 
 Feet. Place square on timber at one top, 
 
 and two at the bottom. Mark, saw, Mortise 
 
 cap, Brace, setup and toe nail, nail on Flume 
 bottom. Measure for next sill, which we Mill say 
 reaches the bank; where you want to bury a 
 loflf as at. first; to anchV r Flume t'. . Put it 
 d*™n one and a half j ncn s h^ow lev"' vrith r^^ 
 oj lust set of uprights. Tairm in ■ ec r\ ard 
 
 n ;!i <>n rh/me bottom. Now i ai : r-n ti<<' siTe 
 
 b^..rds of the Fiume. Nail blocivs vii outside 
 
at joints. Then at intervals oi eight and one fourth 
 feet, nail on biiwus, to keep tiie Flume from 
 spreading* or warding* 
 
 Your Flume jiow being finished, turn in a 
 little water to test it. 
 
 To matte a Fill, across a swag, or 
 depression, you } recced similar to making a R. R. 
 grade. Plowing e:ch side, and scraping dirt to. 
 center. Until you hr.ve a grade high ui<,ir£h to 
 make Ditch on. Make a Culvert through the 
 
 embankment, at the low. st part of the swag; for 
 rain water to pass thresh. 
 
 Dams. 
 
 It is often the case, that yen can 
 not start Ditch, at the watt r level; on account 
 of cut banks; or other causes. In such cases, 
 
 it will be necessary to make a Dam ; to raise 
 the water. to a level with the Ditch. 
 For this purpose, nothing answers so well as 
 brush: Willow or other long brush. Cut and 
 bind the brush with wire, in bundles, as large 
 r^ two men can handle. Place a layer of these 
 bundles, in the creek bed; with the tops up 
 the stream. Then throw in dirt, gravel, and 
 
 rock, t'> fill in and we\rht these rVtvti. 
 
 Then another layer of brush. And fo en 
 
 r-til th** v-ner ; ^ ra^ed to the dcsJltd height. 
 Then cover with rock. 
 
Reservoirs. 
 
 If there is no running Stream near you that yon 
 can appropriate for rrrigating purposes; Then per- 
 haps the no:; t 1;« st plan is to mtild a reservoir, 
 to catch water in titne of rain or melting snow, 
 and hold it until needed by growing crops. 
 
 A reservoir containing one i ere, and hohlii g 
 water to an average depth of ten feci ; will 
 irrigate about forty :!cn-s\ one time. 
 
 For a resevoir sire, st-Kct a swag draw, < r 
 depression, above the level of the land to be 
 irrigated. A clay soil, or a soil resting on a clay 
 subsoil, is best. If the draw is independent of 
 the main draw, which yen aim to eateii water 
 from, all t lie hotter. As y^u can thus fill tin- 
 reservoir, by ditch connection with the n.aiit 
 draw: and avoid danger of overflow. 
 
 To build a dam; or embankment for a 
 reservoir; the place where it is to be constructed, 
 should be cleared of all vegetation and debris. 
 A id thoroughly prepared, by plowing, or trench- 
 ing, or both. So that the earth composing ihe 
 embankment, shall be firmly tinited therewith, 
 at the ends, and at the bottom, and th* 1 t'fith 
 should be sYuvad evenly, and in lay« i-s. rot ex- 
 c cling a foot in depth, a d so dan p tied, tramp 
 -■• d. packed, rolled or troden d^rrn-. r« '■• fcrai 
 a thoro ig'dy compact mass. A cjvj.ss section of 
 
such cbtrri, shoiiUl be of the following proportions. 
 Tiie width at lire base, fc-iioidu be, not Jess than 
 five times the proposed heigLt. And the wkltn 
 at the top, should be Hot Lss tlian half the 
 height. And ft e s^ope of the outer face, should 
 not he more tli rt ii one foot of rise, to one and 
 a half fe t - f sprerd. a d the slope of the inner 
 face, next to the water to be held ore! . should 
 not be more than one foot of rise, to three feet 
 of spread. 
 
 Tie- inner face' of the dam, or cml.nnk- 
 ment, sho/id be i'.aed w'.tl* stone or timber t" in- 
 sist wave action. No water should be allow 
 -ed to flow over the darn; but proper wasteway 
 made to allow the <s a >e of surplus water. 
 
 Before con.m< n i g ihe en bankment, you 
 should put in, near* the lowest point of reser- 
 voir, a good strong box ▼. iih suitable g te, for 
 ieting the water out for use. The box should 
 
 be a few feet longer than the width of base of 
 embankment, a :d s 1 ould b'j well tamped around. 
 In some soils it is necessary to puddle the 
 reservoir, to keep the water from seeping away. 
 Puddling is done by removing all the sod, or 
 vegetation. Then thoroughly plow and pulverize 
 fine, .the whole surface, and turn in valer, then 
 run over it with a drag, made of beards, laped, 
 ilk.' we.'U/i >r boarding. 
 
 Tiiis will practically render it, impervious 
 to water. 
 
irrigating fri a small W&fi for* gardens, suid truck 
 pitches, can be iL/iie to advance, by elevating 
 water from wells, or otuer sources of supply. JStor 
 *ing the Water in small Reservoirs, and where 
 the elevation is not too great, and the wnt/r sup- 
 ply is sufficient, this* can bg drnie quite exten- 
 sively. There are various -ways of raining water, 
 among whieh are. Hydraulic Hams, run bv 
 water its self. Lnk Belt Eh vatrr*, And pumps, rm 
 by water wheels, Wind mill, Ho s , Steam, or Gas 
 power. 
 
 Applying Water to Crops. 
 
 Grain should usiraly not be irrigated until it has 
 made sufficient growth to shaue the land, : t the 
 land tends to run together pack and Lake,' when 
 exposed to the direct rays of the sun, after being 
 irrigated. Hence, the importance of conserv 
 
 -ing the moisture, furnished by spring rains. 
 This is accomplished by deep plowing, and thor- 
 ough pulverization of the soil, before planting, 
 or sowing; and in hoed crops, by frequent cultiva 
 
 ti«Tl. 
 
 The water should be conducted in the main 
 ditch, to, and along the highest part of the field to 
 be irrio-pt°d. Grain, Hay, rnd other crops not 
 grown in rows, are irrigated by Floooi >g. that 
 is, the water is made to flow owr the whole 
 
surface Ol the land, If the lat!<i lavs cornparatiivly 
 level, or gradtndy sloping, but nut undiuatmg the 
 side or lateral ditches .should be made running 
 with the greatest slope of the land, commencing at 
 the highest and running direct to the lowest part 
 of the land. The ditches are male by running 
 an ordinary stiring plow twice through : throwing 
 a furrow each way; these furrows form rims to the 
 ditches for keening the water in hounds of the 
 strip being irrigated. These ditches shoulu be 
 about thirty three feet apart and over the v . n'e 
 field and can be made any time alter iii* grain 
 or crop is sown. Now nuke a dam across the 
 main ditch so as to turn the water in between the 
 first two side ditches, take your position m front 
 of the water and with a shovel keep t 1 e water flow 
 -i ig evenly over the t Lilly tlr e ie< t spree not 
 allowing it. to hie; k < *v< r the rimsinto the dilcins. 
 as soon as the water runs through to the lower end 
 of the land, Change it to the next space. If the 
 water is kept flowing evenly over the spaces the 
 subsequent irrigatings will be quite easy. 
 If the land is undulating then the side or lateral 
 ditches must be surveyed, and run on grade, same 
 as main ditch. In this case the dit -bes should be 
 i '- > n sixty to one hundred feet apart and The 
 rims all on The lower sides. 
 
 To irrigate in This way. begin at. Highest 
 poiiix of The land, puT a darn in Tin main dh'ch 
 
bo as To turn the water out on a space of Thir- 
 ty or forty ieit. Guide along and spivad eVenlv 
 until it reaches the next ditch below: then put id 
 :i dam in that ditch, and guide and spread the 
 vter until it is caught in 1 h- < ■ next ditch, h(*low, 
 and so on until the fi< Id is crossed. 
 
 Then go back to the main ditch, and begin 
 another space in the same way, and ho on through. 
 In irrigating Hmd crops, the rows should 
 be laid off in a dinction that will allow the wa- 
 ter to run freely, but should n<»t 1 o ( t r m ngh 
 to wash. Hoed crops should not be flooded, but 
 
 should have furrows run between the rows, allow- 
 ing the water run in these furrows : turning a 
 s nail stream in each row. Never allowing it to 
 e nne in direct contact with the plant. 
 
 Do not allow the Water o ■ i ujtr than ncees- 
 s ,;, v, for .the moisture to meet in the subsoil uu- 
 d i" the row, which you can tell by sticking down 
 a shovel. 
 [t is tlie water returning to the surface, from 
 
 w, that does the plants most good. 
 
 Cultivate, as soon as dry enough, after each 
 i -rigating. 
 
 T ^ not. commence to irrigate until it is re :ly hec- 
 i ;safy, but after commencing, never aiiow the 
 Und, to become dry. 
 
 A little water applied often is the best 
 rule for hoed crops. 
 
The IRRIGATION ME. 
 
 "Water is the God of the Hrrvest." 
 INDISPENSABLE TO r J HE 
 
 FARMER 
 
 
 FRUIT GROWER 
 
 ENGINEER, 
 
 
 CONTRACTCR, 
 
 INVENTOR, 
 
 
 HOME BUILDER." 
 
 Should ho in 
 
 * 
 
 The only Maga- 
 
 every home in 
 
 * 
 
 zine of its kind 
 
 America. 
 
 * 
 
 in existance, 
 
 MONTHLY. ILLUSTRATED $2.00 per. year. 
 
 The Irrigation Age. 
 
 511 Masonic Temple. CHICAGO. 
 
 SalT" cample copies 10 cents- 
 
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 
 
 D0D5S^Sa41A 
 
 
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