TWENTY FIFTH ANNUAL MEETING. 2L3 



to the roots. This forms a dam out nearly as far as the branches extend. 

 Then turn in from thirty to fifty gallons of water, according to size of 

 tree and amount of fruit it is bearing. When this water soaks away, 

 the soil should be immediately hoed back into place. This fine soil acts 

 as a mulch, holding the water about the roots, and it is of much benefit 

 if the surface can be stirred as often as once each week afterward. T 

 have found this moisture plainly discernible two and three weeks after 

 application. 



To derive the greatest benefit from irrigation, it should be commenced 

 as soon as there is any danger of the trees suffering from drouth, and 

 should be repeated in two or three weeks, if sufficient rain has not fallen 

 in that time. 



While I have not been able to materially increase the size of the fruit 

 by irrigation, I am fully satisfied I have added quite materially to the 

 quality, and kept up the vigor of the tree, thus enabling it to produce a 

 good crop the next season; and I believe if we commenced soon enough, 

 and applied often, it would increase the size considerably. 



I have to haul water about one mile, and with two men and team 

 can irrigate about eighty trees per day. With water on the farm, and an 

 additional man, this number could be doubled. 



IRRIGATION IN 1896. 



BY MR. S. S. BAILEY OF EAST PARIS. 



The subject of irrigation has lost none of its interest during the great 

 drouth of the past season. People have felt as never before the neces- 

 sity of availing themselves of all the accessible water that can be hus- 

 banded and utilized for watering crops. 



The question of cost is the main one hereafter to be considered. Where 

 water is available without first elevating it, the cost is a mere fraction 

 compared with the benefits derived. The extra crops in one year of seri- 

 ous drouth often pay all the first cost of the irrigating plant. Such 

 has been my experience in several instances, and besides paying all 

 expenses they leave a large profit. 



By a little engineering, small streams and spring brooks can be carried 

 around and along the feet of hills and turned upon land where the crops 

 are suffering for want of water; or conveyed into reservoirs or ponds, to 

 be used when wanted. After establishing the grade with a level, so that 

 you know just where the line is to run, the necessary excavation can be 

 made mostly with the plow and scraper, at a very small cost. 



Where the water must first be elevated and the supply is ample, and 

 the plat to be irrigated is not too extensive, a large hydraulic ram can be 

 used, if there is sufficient fall from the source to where the ram is located. 

 An arrangement of that kind once established may be considered a 

 permanent fixture, for the ram never tires and seldom gets out of order 

 if properly set up and well protected. 



