THE IRR GA 1IIOX A GE. ] 95 



every inch of a wheat field seems a labor of great magnitude and diffi- 

 culty; but when one has seen the gently sloping table-lands of Colo- 

 rado, Kansas, and Nebraska he realizes that spreading water over the 

 surface is as simple as plowing corn in Iowa. The dweller along the 

 sluggish, deeply sunken rivers of the middle West marvels at the 

 methods by which the irrigator gets his water supply above the sur- 

 face; but when he looks at the mountain torrents, which have scarcely 

 any banks and have a fall so great that the ditches which leave them 

 seem to be running up hill, this mystery is also explained. 



The first steps in practical irrigation are surprisingly simple, 

 easily understood, and as easily carried out. Many ditches have been 

 built by men who knew nothing of either irrigation or engineering. 

 A few days' instruction and experience will make any man of ordinary 

 intelligence able to irrigate most farm crops without any further direc- 

 tion or oversight. This does not mean that he knows all there is to 

 be learned, or that further time will not enable him to do his work 

 with greater ease or with increased economy in the use of water. The 

 requirements of different crops and the time when water should be 

 applied vary greatly, and the experienced irrigator has a great advan- 

 tage over the novice; but this does not prevent beginners, without 

 either experience or direction, raising good crops the first year. On 

 land reclaimed, and with an ample water supply, success with begin- 

 ners is the rule rather than the exception." 



Mr. Ulich gives the following methods as those used in applying 

 water for irrigation purposes. 



METHODS OF APPLYING WATER TO THE LAND. 



Where an irrigator's land is contiguous to the main canal or dis- 

 tributary, he may have independent diverting works or lateral ditches. 

 When, however, as usually happens, their position and the topography 

 of the ground is such that a number of farms can be served by the 

 construction of a single lateral, such is usually the method adopted. 

 These laterals are usually constructed as partnership or community 

 ditches, and are frequently extended and enlarged to meet the neces- 

 sities of increased acreage and additional farms. Each irrigator is 

 usually required to contribute in money or labor to the cost and main- 

 tenance of such ditches such a proportion of their whole cost as his 

 water bears to the whole quantity of water carried, although sometimes 

 the assessments are made also somewhat proportionate to distance 

 from the head of the lateral. On most systems the company's respon- 

 sibility ceases after turning into the head of such individual or com- 

 munity laterals a quantity of water equal to the aggregate amount to 

 which all the users from it are entitled, the operation of the lateral 

 and the distribution of water among the various consumers being left 

 to be arranged by the interested parties. Where there are many users 

 from a common lateral they usually select one of their number to tak e 



