228 NEBRASKA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



annually. The cost of application amounts to about $1 j)er acre in 

 labor per year applied to distributing water. A very economical 

 method is now coming into use where trees are irrigated from wells 

 by windmills that enables the farmer to utilize nearly every drop of 

 water, and it is making fruit-growing by the means of windmill 

 pumping plants practical. About four feet on each side of the tree 

 there is set upright in the ground four joints of common drainage tile 

 of about five or six inches in diameter and sixteen inches in length. 

 By filling these joints with water during the growing season once or 

 twice a day a large number of trees can be irrigated. By this method, 

 as no water is lost by evaporation, it all goes down to the roots of the 

 trees ; the roots work down where the earth is cool and moist. By 

 this system from ten to twenty acres could be successfully irrigated by 

 the means of a sixteen-foot windmill pumping water from the depth 

 of one hundred feet or more. 



The results that have been obtained from irrigation by the different 

 systems have practically proven that fruit-growing can be profitably and 

 successfully carried on in any portion of Nebraska and crops obtained 

 annually if the trees are properly supplied with sufficient moisture. 



There have been several recommendations made when I stated the 

 object of the inquiries. Three different farmers recommended that I 

 advise grape growing; that grapes could be as successfully and easily 

 grown, where the farmer would learn how, as potatoes. Plums and 

 cherries were also recommended, and every variety of small fruits. 



It is safe to assert that in the new era that is coming to Nebraska 

 fruit-growing will become one of the most important of the leading 

 industries of our state, and that Nebraska will successfully compete 

 with California and Utah in the exportation of this class of farm 

 production. 



DISCUSSION. 



Question — At what distance from the trees are those tiles placed 

 that you speak of. 



Mr. Fort — They advise placing them four feet or so on each side 

 of the tree, from three to four feet. The advantage of that method 

 is that none of the water is lost ; it all goes down. The soil in the 

 western part of our state during the growing season gets very hot and 

 very dry, and a small quantity of water put upon the surface of the 



