35 



can be filled abont 4 feet deep. The water has not been used this 

 year except for a few trees. A large garden was successfully operated 

 in 1!»02, though no specific data could be obtained. Nearly the entire 

 quarter section can be brought under ditch from this well, as well as ■ 

 many acres on adjoining faruis. 



R. D. Wharton, in the south part of the city of Huron, operates a 

 market garden of 15 acres, irrigated by means of pipe attached to the 

 city hydrant. lie has a system of pipes lying on the ground with 

 valves every 50 feet, to which he can attach hose. He lays his pipe 

 line along a ridge on the upper edge of a field, connects with the 

 hydrant by means of a short hose, and carries the water without loss 

 direct to that part he wishes to irrigate. Mr. Wharton emphasizes the 

 fact, also brought out by Joy Brothers, that the aim should be to sup- 

 plement the natural rainfall when necessary, but one must be careful 

 about making the land too wet. Often he does not have to irrigate 

 certain portions of his garden at all during the season, the natural 

 rainfall and subsoil waters left from the previous year's irrigation 

 being sufficient. The garden has yielded 250 bushels of onions per 

 acre, 1,000 bushels of carrots per acre, 7,000 to 9,000 head of cabbages 

 per acre, §600 worth of celery per acre, and $125 worth of muskmelons 

 from five-sixteenths acre. All other garden crops yield in equal 

 abundance. He estimates an average income of ^150 per acre from 

 his garden. 



One of the most extensive systems of irrigation in Beadle County 

 was started about 8 miles north of Huron on section 30, township 112 

 north, range 61 west, by the Consolidated Land and Irrigation Com- 

 pany of Huron. It had a 6-inch well 916 feet deep, flowing about 500 

 gallons per minute, and a reservoir of about 7 acres, which could be 

 filled to a depth of 6 feet or more. Several miles of ditch, and a storage 

 canal on the next section east were constructed, and the farm sys- 

 tematically worked for a few seasons (1891-92). Good results were 

 obtained, the crops being more than double those of the unirrigated 

 lands in that locality. The farm, however, established for specu- 

 lative purj)oses, has changed hands several times and was without a 

 tenant some j^ears. At present it is lying idle, only needing intelli- 

 gent management to make it one of the best paying farms in the 

 vicinity. Seepage has spoiled some of the land contiguous to the res- 

 ervoir, but by proper management the ground can easily be reclaimed. 



E. D. Fuller, living 4 miles south of Cavour, on section 23, town- 

 ship 110 north, range 60, is one of the latest to begin irrigation in 

 this county. He has a 2-inch well 772 feet deep, flowing 82 gallons 

 per minute, dug in June this year (1903). His well is located with 

 reference to use for irrigation, and he carried water this season into a 

 15-acre field of corn, though not in as systematic a manner as he 

 wished. A measurement of stalks which received water compared 

 with some in the same field to which water was not carried showed 



