THE CHECK SYSTEM 165 



such streams. In doing this we get better work and find it much easier for the 

 men. If everything is well in hand, each man will irrigate about 30 acres in a 

 day. 



For turning the water from the ditches into the checks metal dams or tap- 

 poons are used. Some of these have a gate for the division of the water when 

 the stream is too large and is divided, and two rows are watered at the same 

 time. The gate is not a great success, as the water is apt soon to cut its way 

 under the tappoon, but it may be much improved by having a shelf for the 

 water to drop on after it passes through the opening. The common practice for 

 dividing water is to throw a tappoon partly across the ditch, putting a gunny 

 sack on the opposite side to prevent cutting by the water. This is, on the 

 whole, fully as satisfactory as using the tappoon with a gate. 



All who follow this system should get ready for the water before it comes. 

 A great many seem to think that if they ridge up their land, close up the checks, 

 and plow out their ditches, everything necessary has been done. Such is not the 

 case, as ditches that are liable to cut should be fixed in the weak places with 

 brush or burlaps. Old gunny sacks cut open and spread out are excellent for 

 this purpose. Occasionally there are places where it is impossible to get a 

 perfect ridge. These should be looked up and fixed with a shovel. The jump 

 scraper will not entirely close up a check ; it generally requires a shovelful or 

 two to complete it. It is usual after the water is turned down one row to 

 fix up the next one, but it is an excellent plan to have a few rows fixed up 

 ahead, for there come times when breaks occur and there is not time to make 

 the necessary repairs, and when water once gets the start there is apt to be 

 much trouble and hard work before it can be put under control, besides doing 

 poor work. 



After the ground is dry enough to work, the ridges are split with a listing 

 plow or furrower attached to a cultivator. Then the ground should be run 

 over with a harrow, setting the teeth to go well in, so as to pulverize the surface 

 thoroughly. By using the harrow the ground can be worked about one day 

 earlier than with the cultivator, and it also prevents the ground from baking 

 till such time as it can be worked with the latter implement, besides doing far 

 better work than with the cultivator alone, especially when there is much land 

 to go over, as some of it is certain to get too dry before it can be reached, and 

 then it will not pulverize well. All trees should be worked around by hand with 

 either a fork or hoe, as soon after irrigation as the ground becomes dry enough 

 and before it becomes hard. 



Specifications for Homemade Implements for the Check System. 



The following implements, used in preparing the ground for irriga- 

 tion by the check system, were made on the fruit ranch of J. B. Neff, 

 Anaheim, California, with the tools ordinarily found on a ranch, and 

 with but little help from the blacksmith : 



The Ridger. This has sides of 2 by 16-inch pine 7 feet long, stand- 

 ing 18 inches apart at the rear and 5 feet apart at the front end. The 

 sides may be made of two 2 by 8-inch pieces with 2 by 3-inch battens 

 bolted on securely. The front crossbar is of 2 by 4-inch pine 6 feet 2 

 inches long, and is set 20 inches from the end. The rear crossbar is 

 of 2 by 4-inch pine 4 feet 4 inches long. It is set 7 inches from the end 

 of the sides. The diagonal braces are 1 by 3-inch pine 6 feet 10 inches 

 long. The short side braces are 2 by 3-inch pine 15 inches long. The 

 lower inside edge should be protected by a strip of steel or iron y$ by 

 2 inches extending to and around the front ends, which should be 

 beveled to a sharp adge. The inside should also be lined with sheet 

 iron 6 or 8 inches above the % by 2-inch piece, and should have sheet 

 iron pieces extending 16 inches beyond the rear end of the sides, tapered 

 and braced in the manner shown in the cut, for the purpose of making 



