WIXDMir.L IRUICATION. 453 



plied, and but little water will he lost by seepaj^e. However, imich 

 is to be gained by iisinj:^ a trough, or lliiine, say ten or twelve iiicheH 

 scjuare, built of one-inch l)oard, as the water will then be conducted 

 without any loss to the point where it is needed. If the water is to 

 be taken down a heavy incline, say two-and-one-half or three feet to 

 the hundred, it should be carried in a wooden flume; otherwise, it 

 will wash away the bank and make dangerous ditches. The main 

 ditch for an orchard can be built up of one-inch board, with open- 

 ings opposite each tree. These openint^s are to be filled with round 

 wooden plut^s when the water is not needed. 



THE FLUME. 



Before beginning to build the walla of a reservoir , choose the side 

 from which the water is to be taken and build a long trough or 

 flume of 2-inch plank not spliced, 12 or 1-t inches square. This flume 

 on the inside should be placed at such a height that not all of the 

 water can be withdrawn from the reservoir. If this is not done, the 

 water in the reservoir might dry out, and the mud that has been so 

 carefully packed will crack, and the process of re-puddling will have 

 to be gone over again. The tlume should be sawed off on the inside 

 at an angle of about 45 degrees. A 'cover should be made to fit 

 carefully over the opening. Upon one side of the cover should be 

 securely fastened a leather gasket. Any suitable hinge may be 

 used for fastening this over to the flume, and it is well to put a 

 heavy weight on the top of the cover. In order to lift the gate, two 

 pieces of 2x4 can be placed in an "A" shaped manner above and a 

 little back from the gate. This will be steadied by a third additional 

 piece of timber running back and nailed to the side of the box, 

 forming a tripod. On the top of this can be attached a lever, the 

 short end of which is to be connected by means of a wire to the 

 gate. 



Great care should be exercised in placing the flume in the ground, 

 and it should be more firmly tamped than any other portion of the 

 embankment, as the water will have a tendency to flow alongside 

 of the flume and cause a break in the reservoir. 



If the water is discharged with too great a velocit)-, a water apron 

 can be made to receive the force of the water. 



APPLICATION' OF WATER TO LAND I!V KLKK'oW .SYSTEM. 



The proper time to commence applying the water to the land on 

 sunshiny days would be about four o'clock in the afternoon, and 

 continue the work until dark. This gives ample time for water to 

 soak into the ground, and the plants will not be injured by scalding. 



The favorite method of supplying water to crops in semi-arid 

 regions, especially where the ground is tiot absolutely level, is by 

 flooding each row or every alternate row of the crop. Sufficient 

 head should be given where the rows of corn, potatoes, vegetables, 

 etc., are of considerable length to carr^' the water rapidly- forward, 

 so that the entl of the furrow at the greatest distance from the convey- 

 ing hiteral will receive its proportionate share of the water. If a field 

 is planted with potatoes, ff)r instance, they are to be planted so the 



