112 



THE IRRIGATION AGE. 



or tar, as the reservoirs, by hauling in a 

 sufficient quantity of mud, clay or even 

 the magnesia deposits that are found all 

 over the west can be made practically 

 impervious to water. The dirt walls upon 

 the inside are much better if sodded; 

 otherwise they are likely to cause trouble 

 by the washing of waves. An excellent 

 plan will be to riprap the embankment on 

 the inside if stone can be had. By rip- 

 rapping we mean to place stone closely to- 

 gether without order on the inside of the 

 embankment. It is often the case that 

 planks are thrown into the reservoir, which 

 will of course be blown to the opposite 

 side from which the wind is blowing, 

 which will prevent in a measure the waves 

 from washing against the bank. An excel- 

 lent plan is to plant water willows all 

 around the embankment, which will in a 

 short time grow up and serve as a very 

 effectual wind break. 



In the construction of reservoirs where 

 the depth of wells is such that more power 

 and expense is required to lift the water, 

 great care should be exercised in their 

 construction. It is well in such cases to 

 make a deep reservoir. These should be 

 constructed more slowly than where 

 the mills are pumping from shallow 

 depths. 



Build up the sides of the reservoir 

 about two feet in height, then turn in the 

 horses and cattle, and allow the puddling 

 operation to go on for a couple of weeks; 

 then raise the banks another foot and con- 

 tinue the process as before. In this way 

 reservoirs can be made upon the upland 

 where the depth of water within the 

 reservoir can be maintained at a depth 

 of seven or. eight feet. This will insure- 

 less evaporation, and therefore greater 

 economy. 



Photographic reproduction of a windmill irrigating plant owned by T. J. Dyke, Garden City, Kan. It consists. 



of two 12 foot Aermotors with 10 inch pumps upon 12 inch strokes. The reservoir is 100x150 



feet and 4 feet deep. The water is raised 15 feet. The amount of land irrigated is 28 acres. 



