PROCEEDINGS OF THE SUMMER MEETING. 61 



about one and one half inches in diameter run. With a strong head of 

 water and a large hose it is claimed that a man can water five acres 

 per day, but it certainly would reach no great depth. Moreover, this 

 method of watering can not be unreservedly commended, as even if water 

 enough is applied to soak to the depth of ten inches it is more than likely 

 than one half if not two thirds of it will be lost by evaporation. It will 

 tend to compact the surface soil, especially if it is inclined to be heavy^ 

 and if it can not be cultivated it may do as much harm as good. At the 

 very best, then, this method of watering the land is not adapted to clay 

 soils, and it does not seem equal to some of the other methods, except, 

 perhaps, upon small areas, where the town or city waterworks can be 

 drawn upon for the supply. 



SURFACE IRRIGATION FROM FURROWS. 



If water is to be applied in any way upon the surface, running it over 

 the land in furrows and allowing it to soak into the surrounding soil will be 

 found the best system. If this method is used, a little attention is often 

 required to prepare the land for irrigation by filling up depressions and 

 scraping off elevations, but as this can all be done with a team and scraper 

 the expense will not be heavy. Care should be taken that the furrows 

 have only a gentle slope, and it will be best if it is only enough to give a 

 gentle current to the water, as the furrows can then be flooded and the 

 water will soak in evenly along the rows. If no more than one foot in one 

 hundred, they can run down the slope, but if much in excess they should 

 run diagonally or even be carried along the slope with a slight fall. In 

 land that is quite steep the hills can be circled and the water run over the 

 lower edge, any surplus being caught by the furrow below. In some cases 

 slight terraces are made with a plow and the furrows for the water are run 

 on these. On level land a shovel-plow can be used to advantage, but on 

 the side hill a common mould-board plow, used so as to turn the furrow 

 up the hill, will be preferable. When an ordinary cultivator is used in 

 working the crop, if the soil is slightly turned from the rows, a trench 

 sufficiently deep for the water will be made. In small gardens the trench 

 can be quickly made with a hoe, and one should be made use of to even 

 up any inequality of level and to dam the water back when necessary. If 

 close together, furrows between alternate rows will be sufficient, but when 

 further apart, for such crops as the melon and cucumber, a furrow close 

 beside each row will be preferable. The method used in the west for 

 crops in close drills will also be found useful here. By back-furrowing 

 the land twice, a proper slope can be given the beds (15 to 30 feet) from 

 side to side, but special plans will be required in laying out the beds in 

 order' that an even slope longitudinally may be secured. When used for 

 small fruits that are planted at four feet or less between the rows, if there 

 is a furrow in every other space it will suffice, but if the distance is much 

 in excess of this, there should be one in each space. In orchards, one fur- 

 row will, as a rule, answer for two rows of trees, if a branch furrow is given 

 off to each of them. The water can be applied to the best advantage if 

 the soil under the trees is so arranged that the water can be spread out in 

 a thin sheet as large as the circle of the branches. In the case of bearing 

 trees, however, it will be best if the water is not allowed to come within 

 from two to four feet of the trunks. 



