16 



been mentioned concerning the other, the slopes are longer, and con- 

 sequently the difficnlties are not so great. 



The objection is often heard that gravity irrigation will do in a few 

 places, but tliat most farms in South Jersey are too flat. To test this, 

 1 square mile of the surrounding country was examined as to slope 

 of land, and it was found that three-fourths of it has sufficient slope 

 to render irrigation by gravity easy, while nearly all could be suc- 

 cessfully irrigated by gravity if some leveling were done. 



It is sometimes desirable to sow clover seed at a certain time ; for 

 instance, crimson clover needs to be sowed among squash or canta- 

 loupe vines just as the runners start. Often the ground can be thor- 

 ouglily wet by gravity irrigation, but sometimes it would be a great 

 advantage to sprinkle. In view of this fact a low-wheeled wagon 

 was purchased, to be used as a lumber wagon and, when occasion 

 required, for mounting the engine and pump and hauling them into 

 the field to be irrigated. The water can be brought to the pump in a 

 ditch and carried to the sprinklers through several lines of hose. 

 Since a centrifugal pump is used, it does no harm if the water is a little 

 sandy. 



The arrangements for the irrigation of the 10-acre farm are now 

 such as the experience of six years would indicate as best for a low- 

 priced irrigation plant. This plant could be duplicated for $325 if 

 second-hand pipe could be secured as cheaply as was that now used. 

 This estimate includes labor. 



C. BECKER, VINELAND, N. J. 



Mr. 0. Becker has irrigated small plats of land for several years. 

 After trying many methods of distributing water he decided to try 

 sprinkling, as requiring the least labor. One-seventh acre was fitted 

 with parallel 2-inch pij^es laid 11 feet apart, and " water- witch " 

 sprinklers were attached at distances of 20 feet. (PI. II, fig. 1.) The 

 cost of 4,000 feet of 2-inch pipe, at 12 cents per foot, and 200 sprin- 

 klers, at 50 cents each, would be $580 per acre. Reckoning interest 

 plus the depreciation of the plant at 10 per cent of the cost, the annual 

 cost of irrigation would be $58 per acre, not counting original cost of 

 pumping plant, which is used for other purposes as well as irrigation, 

 nor cost of attendance while irrigating, nor cost of pumping. The 

 ejitire device is arranged to sprinkle without heavy expense of attend- 

 ance. If greater pressure were used, the cost for pipe and sprinklers 

 could be reduced about one-half, as shown in the description of Mr. 

 Astle's plant (p. 14). 



The water is supplied from a tank 10 feet deep placed 15 feet above 

 the ground. The water is pumped into this tank from a well by a 

 windmill when there is wind or by a gasoline engine when the wind 

 fails. 



In 1903 the original plan of growing three crops on this ground was 

 not carried out on account of pressure of other work. Strawberries, 



