1032 



ANNUAL REPORT OF THE 



Off. Doc. 



diiced precluded the possibility of any considerable extension of ir- 

 rigated areas. 



The acreage artificial I3' watered in 1899 was devoted principally 

 to hay, more than 93 per cent, of the total area irrigated being under 

 this crop. A large part of this acreage was reported from Monroe, 

 iN'ortliampton, Lehigh, Bucks, Berks and Lancaster counties in the 

 southeastern part of the State. In 1899 the acreage of hay irrigated 

 was 758, and the value of the crop was $17,920, or |23.64 per acre. 



The value of irrigation in truck farming as an assurance against 

 loss bv drouth has been demonstrated in several counties of the 

 State, and the reports from irrigated farms show a very large income 

 per acre. The methods of irrigation on these farms vary greatly, 

 and tht cost is much higher than on farms where hay is the only 

 crop irrigated. 



The water is generally pumped from driven wells by steam power 

 or windmills. In the vicinity of large cities the farmers occasionally 

 use city water. Notwithstanding the heavy original cost of engines, 

 piiiJ'.pS; pipes, etc., in nearly every instance the value of the irrigated 

 crop reported was equal to or exceeded the first cost. In 1899 the 

 acreage value per acre of the products derived from irrigated land 

 devoted to truck farming, was |330.43. 



The following table shows the number of irrigators, and acreage 

 irrigated, with cost of construction of irrigation systems, and value 

 of irrigated products in 1899. 



TABLE A. — Number of Irrigators, Acreage Irrigated, and Cost of 

 Construction of Irrigation Systems, With Acreage and Value of 

 Irngated Crops. 



