REPORT ON IRRIGATION INVESTIGATIONS IN HUMID SECTIONS 

 OF THE UNITED STATES IN 1903. 



IRRIGATION IN MARKET-GARDEN DISTRICTS IN THE VICINITY 



OF EASTERN CITIES. 



By Edward B. Voorhees, 

 Director of the New Jersey Agricultural Experivient Stations. 



During the summer of 1903 market gardens in the vicinities of New 

 York and Boston were visited for the purpose of ascertaining the 

 approximate cost of irrigation for such gardens and the profits due 

 to tlie use of water. It was not the intention to gather statistics 

 showing the extent of irrigation, but rather to secure the facts relat- 

 ing to typical systems. There are many other plants besides those 

 described, but they are not peculiar in any particular, and their 

 descriptions would not add to the value of this report. 



TYPICAL IRRIGATION SYSTEMS. 



W. F. TABER & SON, POUGHKEEPSIE, N, Y. 



This plant has been in successful operation for several years and is 

 used chiefly for the irrigation of berries, the area ranging from 4 to 6 

 acres. Mr. Taber is enthusiastic over the advantages of irrigation. 

 It guarantees, first, a perfect stand and rapid growth of newly set 

 plants; second, the highest quality of product; and third, maximum 

 crops. 



The equipment consists of a 14-horsepower gasoline engine, located 

 near a small lake which provides for any possible demands for water 

 even in the driest times; 1,000 feet of 2|-inch iron pipe, which is laid 

 to the nearest point of the area to be irrigated; and 100 feet of 2-inch 

 duck hose, which is attached to the main pipe. Mr. Taber uses 

 the sprinkling method of irrigation almost exclusively. For this he 

 uses a fire nozzle which is 18 inches long with a f-inch opening and 

 1-inch reduction. He has also perfected a form of flat nozzle to be 

 attached to the fire nozzle without reduction, which enables him to 

 obtain a fine spray. This gives a spray 4 inches wide. A ^-inch 

 opening is found to be most practicable with his water pressure and 



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