240 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



The system of irrigation is formed just as the one described to form stock- 

 water. The deep ditch in the center of the garden is 20 rods long; the one for 

 irrigating is 30 rods. They were made eight feet deep at the start. The water 

 did most of this digging — a shallow ditch being made with the plow to give it a 

 start. 



We use coal slate broke fine instead of tiling ; the pieces for covering are used 

 as large as the ditch will permit. The joints will break. Gravel covered with 

 coarse sand, 1 think, would do as well. 



There was no tiling to be had when I commenced ditching, so I learned to do 

 without it. 



Those wishing to obtain a full supply of stock water in a short time should 

 cut their first ditch on a perfect level with the bottom of the water tank, so it will 

 serve as a reservoir, and should be filled as high as the water will stand in the 

 tank. From the tank back to the upper side of the dam there should be a one-inch 

 gas-pipe used, with a stop to regulate the stream to the proper quantity for use. 



There should be perforated iron surrounding the upper end of this pipe, and 

 this covered with gravel. If tiling is used in the rest of the ditch, it is best to 

 cover it with gravel or slate broken fine. A small tank keeps the water of a more 

 even temperature than a large one. 



We have used no manure on the irrigated ground, but things have grown 

 very fine. One hill of Iron- clad watermelons produced 800 pounds— the largest 

 weighing G5 pounds and the smallest 27 pounds ; 21 melons in all. 



One sweet-potato plant set out June 5, 1893, and dug October 14— potatoes 

 weighed 36 pounds. 



I planted a fine yearling Concord grape-vine March 28, 1891 ; it ripened three 

 bunches of grapes the same season ; in 1892 it ripened 12 bunches, and in 1893 it 

 ripened 352 bunches of tine grapes. Clean culture, but no manure. It had 16 feet 

 of drift soil, and plenty of moisture ; has come into winter in fine condition. 



The proper drainage to draw the water from our public roads, and the proper 

 damming with permanent stone walls to stop the ruinous wash that is now going 

 on, is a matter that should be looked after immediately. There are ditches in this 

 county that were started by the road overseers, that have cost the county hun- 

 dreds of dollars for bridging. If the proper work of under-draining and damming 

 had been done at the time of starting the open ditches, the cost would not have 

 been 10% of the present cost. Grading and open ditching on hill land is not near so 

 good as under-drainage with a smooth surface. 



In the case of our garden, the water dug the center ditches for us, and when 

 the drainage material was placed and the dam prepared at the lower end, the 

 water washed in soil and filled them in less time than it took to dig them, and it 

 kept on filling until it is nearly half-way to the top of the ridge or hill on each side. 

 Why not adopt the same plan on our roads, and have the water to refill the ditches 

 and grade our roads for us where bridges now exist; they might stand until the 

 fill reaches them or even covers them. In some places it would be necessary to 

 form a concave stone crossing for the water and the wagon-way, so that flood 

 waters would not damage the road-bed. 



In many places the men owning the land below and above the road could af- 

 ford to help do the work for the sake of good running water below, and a good 

 garden spot above. 



If the plan was adopted by all men having suitable land, there would soon be 

 good springs on every farm, and the now dry beds of our creeks would be living 



