80 



THE IRRIGATION AGE. 



apportion the flow of water iu a stream to 

 the respective riparian owners by periods 

 of time, rather than by a diversion of its 

 quantity, so that each may have the full 

 flow of the stream during such designated 

 periods, instead of a portion of the flow 

 during all the time, when the circumstances 

 are such that a division in this manner 

 would better conserve the rights of all the 

 riparian owners, was fully considered and 

 established in Harris vs. Harrison, 93 Cal., 

 676. It was said in that case: 'According 

 to the common law doctrine of riparian 

 ownership, as generally declared in Eng- 

 land and in most American states, upon 

 the facts in the case at bar the plaintiffs 

 would be entitled to have the waters of 

 Harrison canyon continue to flow to and 

 upon their land, as they were naturally ac- 

 customed to flow, without any substantial 

 deterioration in quality or diminution in 

 quantity, but in some of the western and 

 southwestern states and territories, where 

 the year is divided -into one wet and 

 one dry season, and irrigation is necessary 

 to successful cultivation of the soil, the 

 doctrine of riparian ownership has, by 

 judicial decision, been modified, or rather 



enlarged, so as to include the reasonable 

 use of natural water for irrigating the ri- 

 parian land, although such use may appre- 

 ciably diminish the flow down to the lower 

 riparian proprietor, and this must be taken 

 to be the established rule in California, at 

 least where irrigation is thus necessary.' 

 In an arid country water for irrigation 

 may become a natural want of man, as 

 exigent as when needed for domestic pur- 

 poses, since without it vegetation would 

 cease, and the sources of life be indirectly 

 destroyed. When, as in the present case, 

 a stream, instead of incrpasing as it goes 

 toward the sea, constantly diminishes, un- 

 til it finally disappears, or ceases to have 

 any appreciable volume, it is very evident 

 that its beneficial use can be regulated 

 better by periods of time rather than by a 

 division of its quantity. A perpetual use 

 of the water by all of the proprietors would 

 be impracticable, for the reason that a 

 perpetual use by the upper proprietor 

 would, during a large portion of the year, 

 entirely deprive the lower proprietor of 

 any flow, and a just protection of the 

 rights of both is best effected by a division 

 in periods in time." 



A FURROW-MAKER. 



BY JOEL SHOMAKER. 



A FURROW-MAKER is valuable to all 

 classes of farmers in every section of 

 the country. The irrigated districts require 

 field furrows in order to properly distribute 

 moisture. The prairie farmers need fur- 

 rows to guide in planting and cultivating. 

 Where land is level, furrows are bene- 

 ficial in wet seasons for drawing the 

 surplus water from the growing crops. In 

 dry weather the same furrows retain what 

 moisture falls, and distribute it by seepage 

 and percolation to the roots of the crops 

 in plats between the furrows. Furrows 

 facilitate the cultivation and harvesting of 

 crops. As every farmer must have more 

 or less furrowing, the best, easiest and 

 cheapest methods of making are always 

 sought. 



An old backwoods Western farmer has 

 discovered what he thinks is a model 

 method for making furrows. All his crops 

 are rolled after planting, and as irrigation 

 is required, he must have distributary fur- 

 rows. These are made by having a fur- 

 row attachment upon the roller. His 



roller is made of wood. A big cottonwood 

 log ten feet in length was hewn down to 

 make the roller. Three feet from either 

 end of the log he left the log full size and 

 chopped down, sloping on either side, 

 leaving the extra sap probably three inches 

 wide on the outside. The main body of 

 the roller is probably six inches lower than 

 these rings of timber. In driving over 

 the planted field, the roller levels the land 

 and the rims of timber cut in and make 

 the furrows. 



To prevent the pieces of wood from 

 breaking off, the entire rim was covered 

 with an old wagon tire and spiked with 

 twenty-penny wire nails. Straight fur- 

 rows can be made as easily with the roller 

 as with any other two-horse implement. 

 The driver sits in the center in a spring 

 seat and has nothing to watch but the 

 course of the roller. This method could 

 be used on rollers not made of logs just as 

 well. Iron bands would answer the pur- 

 pose if they were large enough and prop- 

 erly put upon the roller. 



