WINDMILL IRRIGATION. 455 



as the crop is setting-. Any surplus of water put on the land in the 

 fall or winter need not be drained off, but in summer the crof) may 

 be injured if the subsoil is such that under drainage is not possi- 

 ble. In such cases the ridges around each lot will furnish ample 

 drainage b}' making an oi)ening ami discharging the water into the 

 next lot. 



FKUIT TREES. 



In the economical use of water a large number of acres of fruit 

 trees can be successfully and cheaply irrigated, even where it is 

 necessary to raise the water from a depth of 2(X) feet. If the owners 

 of orchards should procure ordinary drainage tiles without sockets, 

 and place them perpendicular!}' at a distance of four feet on each 

 side of the trees, and convey the water by pipes, or other means 

 where great economy is necessary, into these tiles during the grow- 

 ing season, a very small amount of water will accomplish great 

 results. The tile should be about six inches in diameter and eight- 

 een inches long, imbedded in the ground. By this method all the 

 water is conveyed below the surface, and there is very little loss by 

 evaporation. This causes the roots of the tree to go down where 

 the earth is cool, and the tiles do not become choked up with roots, 

 as is the case when they are laid under the ground horizontallj-. 

 With orchards it is never advisable to allow the water to come in 

 contact with the trunk of the tree. Small ridges of earth should be 

 thrown up around the tree to as to protect the bark from the water. 



USE A SMALL WINDMILL. 



We should emphatically advocate the use of wheels not larger 

 then 8 or 12 feet in diameter where the lift is not over 25 feet, and in 

 very many other cases where the lift is 50 feet they can be used to 

 advantage. Where all the conditions laid down are complied with, 

 an 8 or 12 foot wheel should easily irrigate 10 or 15 acres. To flow 

 water through open ditches to land more remote is a waste of water 

 and a waste of labor — better put up another small plant there. Huge 

 irrigating schemes are generally huge failures. The big ditches 

 near Garden City are pretty nearly always out of water when it is 

 needed most. That is why windmills are now being used; they are 

 more reliable. 



Any one who will observe the six conditions laid down can raise 

 the same amoiuit of produce on the same ground every year with- 

 out fail. In this work there is no gambling on the weather nor 

 praying for rain, but it must be borne in mind that anj' excuse» 

 however ingenious, for not complying with the al)ove six condi- 

 tions will not help the crop. Some of the additional reasons for 

 using small irrigating outfits may be of interest. 



First. They are within the reach of all in cost. 



Second. They are most easily and safely cared for by the care- 

 less and shiftless. 



Third. While it is easy to get a water supply for the small wheel, 

 it is not for the large one. 



Fourth. When the elevation is not great, it is much more eco- 

 nomical in every respect to pump the water to the surface where it is 



