PROCEEDINGS OF THE SUMMER MEETING. 43 



level of the land to be irrigated, the water can be carried in a ditch a 

 foot or so in width and depth, which can be excavated at a very small 

 expense. This was the method formerly employed throughout the west, 

 and is still quite generally used in some sections. In some places they 

 have large steam-pumps that are used for pumping water for irrigating 

 purposes, and find that they pay. In some sections they have extensive 

 pipe systems, of iron, wood, or cement, in which they carry the water to 

 their orchards, from long distances. A hydrant is located at the highest 

 point of each tract and they can often distribute the water over ten acres 

 or more. Where they are thus able to irrigate they grow enormous crops 

 on land that, without water, would produce only sage brush and cactus. 



Of the various methods of pumping water, where the lift is not more 

 than twenty feet, the centrifugal pumps have many advantages. They 

 can be worked by an ordinary traction engine and will raise from 100 

 to several thousand gallons per minute, according to the size of the pump 

 and the distance the water is raised. Where there is a greater lift a 

 gasoline engine can be used with an ordinary lifting pump, while the 

 same source for the power may be used with the centrifugal pumps 

 where the lift is not too great. When the water does not have to be 

 raised over forty or fifty feet, it will repay pumping for garden and fruit 

 crops. 



Even with irrigation, cultivation should be kept up throughout the 

 growing season, as it will not only reduce the amount of water that will 

 need to be applied, but it will be of advantage to the growth of the crops. 

 In some parts of the west, fair results are obtained with orchards, in sec- 

 tions where the rainfall is not more than twelve inches, and without irri- 

 gation, by frequent shallow cultivation. Where neither system of cultiva- 

 tion is used the land is almost a desert, but by working the soil every 

 week with a smoothing harrow they are able to conserve enough of the 

 water to secure good results. 



A windmill could be used for areas of an acre or so, if a reservoir of 

 suflflcient size is provided to hold 2,000 barrels for each acre. The mill 

 could then be set to work in the spring, whenever there is wind, and could 

 pump into the reservoir where the water could be stored until needed 

 for irrigating purposes. 



In California they have greatly reduced the amount required by com- 

 bining cultivation with irrigation. 



I have only taken up a few of the points in the matter, but if informa- 

 tion upon any other points is desired, I shall be glad to give it, if in my 

 power. 



Mr. Rice; I would ask if caution is not necessary in irrigation, to pre- 

 vent the baking of the surface in heavy soil. A. Not if you cultivate 

 as soon as the ground is sufiiciently dry. 



Mr. Rice: In transplanting a large white birch, some years ago, from 

 land where they used the lawn sprinkler a great deal, I found the roots 

 had not gone down more than a foot or two. The whole tree seemed 

 to be spread out on the surface. If you irrigate the orchards largely will 

 not the roots spread out on the surface? 



Mr. Taft: He is talking about sprinkling the surface, and I am talk- 

 ing about irrigating and allowing the wat< r to soak into the soii. You 

 can be sure that spi inkling will give surfac.e-rooting plants. Yon put it 



