8 Jan., 1908.] 



Irrigation Methods. 



33 



Owing to the permanent character of the furrows, watering is much 

 simpler and more certain. Once in working order and the irrigator familiar 

 with his ground arid its requirements, water mav be turned on into the 

 head-ditches and allowed to distribute itself, saving a lot of labour and 

 annoyance. 



In the spreading system, distributary channels are run along contours, 

 that is on lines of the same level, at distances of several chains aipart. 

 The water is let out from a distributary by any of the means already 

 described and at frequent intervals ; it is allowed to flow slowly over the 

 surface to the next contour channel' which picks up any surplus. When 

 well arranged, the result should be the same as in the furrows, very little 

 reaching the end beyond that required to soak the soil in the immediate 

 vicinity. If the land has been well graded and levelled, this is a fairly 

 simple operation and the water will need but little coaxing or blocking 



SPREADING SYSTEM OF WATERING LUCERNE AFTER HARVESTING COVER 

 CROP, WYUNA IRRIGATION FARM. 



with the long-handled shovel to spread over the whole surface between 

 the contour drains. Plenty of labour at the outset in land preparation and 

 efficient system will tend to greatly reduce the labour required in distri- 

 butir-g and- as the latter is a continuous expense, no pains shoidd be 

 spared to reduce it to its lowest limits compatible" with good work. 



The flooding or check s\stem comes next in order of merit. Check 

 banks which are advisably made low and wide .so that implements may 

 be worked over them, and at intervals to allow of six inches in depth of 

 water at most being put on the land. In somewhat undulating country 

 the check banks may be with advantage run on the contours, each being 

 four inches lower than the previous one. When flooded in a check the 

 result will then be two inches in depth at the upper end and six inches at 

 the lower, the water being about flush with the top of the check bank. 



1.59.36 V. 



