582 . AGRICULTURAL REPORT. 
ing will cut away too much of the surface soil, let the level be high enough to “ back- 
water” over the upper’side. My main ditch is arranged to throw its entire contents 
into the highest of these beds, through a sluice-box with gate. A few minutes serve 
to fill this, while the surplus water is discharged into the next lower bed, through a 
box constructed as follows: Take three pieces of inch board 12 to 13 inches wide and 
2 to 3 feet long, nailed together like three sides of a box, braced across the open or top 
side. In this box I fasten a stationary gate, coming within three inches of the top. 
The box I pack in the levee so firmly that there will be no leakage around it, and of 
such kbeight that, when the water has entirely covered the upper bed, the surplus will 
escape over this half-open sluice, falling in the box before striking the ground, by 
which the force of the current is broken and the water is thus prevented from tearin 
up the soil. By the same process a long succession of beds can be throu an 
quickly watered without labor or waste; and also be made to do service while the 
owner is sleeping, and in case of a rainfall none is lost. When the last bed begins to 
fill, I shut the main gate and leave each bed of the series to soak away gratdually.. 
However, if the succession of beds is too long, the first gets too much water, and t 
last scarcely enough; therefore it is desirable to have a sluice-box for each bed, inde- 
pendent of the rest, connecting directly with the ditch. The larger the bed the better, 
for less land is occupied by the levees, and it is easier to work the land and gather the 
crops. If possible, employ an engineer to determine and mark the leve} for beds and 
levees, for much time aud expense wil] be saved by it. The clover once up and once set, 
' itis safe from everything except drought; and until it has grown enough to shade the 
ground somewhat, great care must be exercised to prevent its being burned up by sun 
and wind, After this water does the rest. In my own case this treatment has brought 
the following results: My first successful experiment was with a small piece of land 
measuring about one-eighth of an acre, sown one-half with common red clover, the other 
with lucern or blue Mexican, This piece supplied almost the entire summer feed for 
two cows, during three summers, being cut three or four times each season. In August, 
186Y, I sowed half an acre of common red, slightly mixed with white. This was well 
seeded, came up, and nearly covered the ground before winter set in. In the spring it 
began to grow at least a month earlier than the hardy weeds which had threatened to 
choke it out, and at last it smothered every weed and spear of wild grass which started 
among it. During the winter, while the ground was frozen, I had a small quantity of 
fine manure scattered over it, causing a perceptible increase in its thrift and nutritious 
qualities. I cut the third crop September 15, when it stood 12 to 15 inches high. From 
these crops I fed, from May to July 15, two cows and an average of four horses, and 
since the last date, five cows, eight sheep, aud four lorses, the clover forming almost 
their only food. Of course the Lorses were fed with grain, but the clover took the place 
of hay. The entire space occupied by clover will barely measure two acres; s0 you can 
form some ideaof its enormous yield. No place in Colorado could be more unprom- 
ising than the very spot ou which I have this year made three crops of clover. The 
soi] was below the average of my farm in quality, but it has been flooded ten or twelve 
times during the season, and aided by the top spreading of manure. I lave also had 
one crop from last spring’s seeding, on ground which Yad no manure, irrigated as I 
have deseribed. Of course this system of irrigation niust be too expensive for large 
farmers, although during the preseut season I Lave taken more oats from one acre thus 
treated, than from four acres irrigated iv the ordinary nianner. 
These experiments convince me that farming in Colorado resolves itself into a ques- 
tion of water and its judicious application. My own efforts have been confined to the 
sandy loam and gravelly soils, and I would apply this system only to such. Having 
had no experience in cultivating the heavy clay soils, I cannot speak confidently with 
veference to them. ‘ 
From the experience of the Greeley colonists, which of necessity was 
imperfect, because they did not get water upon the land until late in 
June, Mr. Meeker concludes: Ist. Gardens require water at least once 
‘a week; grain, once in two or three weeks. 2d. The ground must be 
level, or free from,elevations and depressions, and dead furrows should 
always be avoided.. 3d. When water is to be applied, a large head is 
needed, so that the ground may be covered as quickly as possible. Half 
enough water is little better than no water. When irrigating is to be 
done, a man must be with the water ali the time, for if left to itself, the 
work is certain not to be done. 4th. A great deal of judgment 1s 
required, aud no positive directions can be given so that a man would 
not be under the necessity of adding something of his own knowledge, 
because no two pieces of ground are alike, and each requires especial 
study. Sth. Farming by irrigation is, on the whole, more profitable 
