38 Subtropical Vegetable-Gardening 



For a vegetable field of 4 to 6 acres in extent, a 3000-gallon 

 tank is ample. A steel tank and tower, including its 

 erection, costs approximately $500. 



A second essential part is the pumping plant. A six 

 to eight horse-power gasoline or alcohol engine with pump 

 of suitable capacity will serve for this purpose. The cost 

 of the engine and pump, with cost of installing, will vary 

 according to the location and the make of the machinery, 

 but $400 to $600 is ample to purchase and install such 

 machinery in first-class condition. 



The third essential of this plant is the pipe line. For an 

 area of 4 to 6 acres in extent, it is desirable to have the 

 main line of 3-inch pipe. This can be reduced to 2|-inch 

 pipe toward the end of the line. The laterals will be at- 

 tached to this main line. These should be about 200 

 to 350 feet in length, starting with a 1-inch pipe at the main 

 line and running at this size for 150 or 200 feet. The re- 

 mainder of it may be reduced to f-inch pipe. These 

 laterals may be placed on the tops of posts 7 feet tall, to 

 get the pipe out of the way of laborers and work animals. 

 In the side of this pipe, at 4 foot intervals, are holes drilled 

 with ^-inch bit. This forms a rather crude way of dis- 

 tributing the water, but proves to be serviceable. A better 

 and more serviceable form will be found by using a j^-inch 

 bit for drilling the holes and then inserting brass nozzles 

 manufactured for this purpose. These have a -^-inch 

 opening and deliver the water more evenly than does the 

 rough opening made by a bit. A number of makes of 

 these nozzles may be had on the market. In using this 

 form for distributing the water, the lateral pipes are 

 laid 50 feet apart. A 30-pound pressure from the tank will 



