286 ANJSnJAL REPORT. 



belt of extra tropical rains and where the influence of irrigation was most strikingly- 

 manifest in the luxurieut growth of trees and fruit. This orchard irrigated by the 

 subteraneous system of cement pipes, was 18 to 20 acres, the flat on top of a ridge 

 which outside of the irrigated area was as barren as a travelled highway in midsum- 

 mer. The water was raised by wind power and managed from the tanks by one 

 man, only a part of whose time was required daily to do the same work that 

 required two and sometimes three men one week in each month. Having for a 

 long time been of opinion that even in our favored land we could profit by a judic- 

 ious use of water, I had hoped some parties interested in gardening or orcharding 

 might make some experiments in irrigation and report them to the Society. I know 

 that some few persons have watered patches of berries in an unmethodical manner 

 and without keeping any accurate record, and have acknowledged the benefits 

 accruing therefrom, but no one in our State or so far as I know, in any part of the 

 United States east of the 100th meridian of longitude, systematically applied water 

 to the specific use of increasing the profits of farming, except Mr. Cole, who in 

 the dry weather last season put a team at hauling water from the Vermillion, one 

 quarter of a mile and thoroughly soaked strips about twenty feet wide through a 

 strawberry patch one quarter of an acre in extent; the team was employed three days 

 at one time and two at another, and the results were so satisfactory that I will, if pos- 

 sible, irrigate this year in systematic manner so much of my garden grounds as I can, 

 and should any member of the Society desire any further information as to making 

 the concrete and laying the pipes for sub-irrigation, I will be pleased to give them 

 in detail any information possessed by myself. It occurs to me that a garden plat 

 underdrained in this manner by pipes, could be raised in temperature in early 

 spring or late fall by filling the pipes with hot water, the advantages of which will 

 be apparent to all. 



It should be remembered that an improper use of water may prove not only 

 detrimental but also sometimes disastrous. Thus, surface irrigation of a clay soil 

 in mid-summer may harden the surface and render it impervious to the air, light 

 and moisture necessary to the vitality of the tree or plants, or too great a supply 

 of water in loose, friable, spongy soils may induce the roots to take up a larger 

 supply than the tree can safely use, thus enfeebling the tissues and weakening its 

 vitality so that it may suffer and possibly die under the heats of our sometime torrid 

 summers; but this whole subject is one which I am sure is worthy the careful ex- 

 amination and attention of our horticulturists and farmers, and to them I desire to 

 commend its practice experimentally. 



On motion, the meeting adjourned until 7 o'clock p. m. 



