454 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



entire leng-th of each row is nearly on the level. If the field is on 

 the hillside or on an incline, the furrow should not run down the 

 hill but crosswise in such a manner that there will be only a very 

 slig-ht incline to each row. 



The feeding ditch from the reservoir, which in this case need be 

 only about 18 inches deep and the same in width, can be run along 

 at one end of the rows mentioned. When the water is allowed to 

 rush out of the reservoir, a boj^ can stand at the first row in the field 

 and break down the wall at the lateral ditch, so that the water will 

 rush in and flood one row. The walls of the ditch are then broken 

 down, allowing- the water to follow adjacent rows, and while it is 

 filling them the boy can repair the wall in front of the first row; and 

 thus the work is continued until the entire field is irrigated between 

 the rows. A portable dam may be used to close up the ditch at 

 each place where the water escapes, being moved from point to 

 point as needed. If your reservoir is ample in size, two or three 

 furrows may be irrigated at the same time. 



THE FLOODING SYSTEM AND PREPARATION OF THE LAND. 



Where the ground is comparatively level, the most satisfactory 

 method for distributing the water will be by flooding. To do this, 

 the farmer should carefully observe the surface of the field, and by 

 means of plow and scraper level down any small elevations, so that 

 the entire surface may be brought down to one general level. The 

 field should then be divided up into oblong patches about 15 or 20 

 feet wide, though in some instances thej' are made as wide as 50 

 feet. These patches of ground should end up at the main ditch, so 

 that the water can flow out of it upon the beds, one at a time. These 

 beds referred to are separated from each other by ridges a foot 

 or more in height. They are generally made by a scraper, con- 

 structed of planks, shaped like the runners of a sled, with the 

 exception that the planks are put in the form of the letter "A," with 

 the front about 8 feet wide, and the other end cut ofif so as to leave 

 an opening 15 or 18 inches wide. Planks should be securely nailed 

 at intervals across the top to hold the scraper together. By hitching 

 to the wide end and driving across the field, the dirt will be gathered 

 in and left behind in a ridge. These ridges should be thoroughly 

 smoothed and packed, so they may not cause trouble by the water 

 breaking through. The length of the beds will vary according to 

 the size of the reservoir, the kind of soil, the slope of the land, etc.; 

 they range from 200 to 1,000 feet long. These beds sfiould be leveled 

 off as smoothly and evenly as possible. In a field so arranged, fall 

 and winter flooding may be followed. 



For flooding at any time of the year, the reservoir should be 

 allowed to fill up and then suddenly discharged in a large stream, 

 thoroughly and quickly covering the entire bed. This is possible 

 in winter, as your reservoir will not freeze over if you are continu- 

 ally pumping into it, unless, of course, the reservoir is unusually 

 large in comparison to the amount of water pumped. Where this 

 system of Hooding is followed, it will usually suffice to Hood the 

 ground thoroughly during the late fall and earl}' winter. If a dry 

 spring follows, another flooding may be given in June or July, just 



