Irrigating Peaches 307 



According to Fortier/ it is doubtful whether the furrows 

 between head ditches should be over 600 feet long because 

 of the length of time it requires the water to reach the 

 farther end. In sandy or gravelly soils, where the water 

 sinks in rapidly, the furrows should not exceed 200 feet in 

 length. 



A slope of 3 to 4 inches to 100 feet of furrow is desirable. 

 If too little slope, the water runs very slowly ; if too much, 

 the rate of flow is too fast. If the slope is more than S to 10 

 inches to 100 feet, the trees should be planted on the contour, 

 or the furrows made on the contoiu*s without regard to the 

 tree rows, or some other means adopted, if possible, to reduce 

 the slope of the furrows. WTiere too steep, it becomes 

 impossible to distribute the water evenly. 



In operating, considerable care must be exercised that the 

 openings in the head ditch be made of such size that the rate 

 of delivery will insure an even distribution of water through- 

 out the length of the row. \Miere the soil is loose and easily 

 eroded, the water should run slowly. 



The basin or check method consists of making cross ridges 

 of soil between the trees in both directions so that each tree 

 is thus made to occupy the center of a basin. This method 

 is applicable where the land is flat and the soil is of such a 

 nature that water percolates very rapidly. The water is 

 run from one basin to another by making breaks in the 

 ridges, or by movable spouts or pipes. The ridges used in 

 this method of irrigation may be seen in Plate XX. The 

 method is objectionable in that the attendants have to 

 stand in mud and water while operating. 



Flooding is not much used. It is applicable under con- 

 ditions similar to those for which the check system is used, 



1 Farmers' Bull. 882. 



