78 



THE IRRIGA TION AGE. 



the land is nearly level, they can be far apart. Water is turned into 

 each of these compartments, which may contain from 1 to 20 acres or 

 more, and the stream from the ditch is allowed to flow until the entire 

 compartment is flooded. A small gate is then opened, or the check 

 cut with a shovel and the water drained off until the next compart- 

 ment is full, and so on until the entire area has been thoroughly wet. 

 In the case of crops cultivated in furrows, such as potatoes, it is 

 customary to run water down the furrows -these being laid out so 

 that the water will flow freely, yet without washing the soil. In prac- 

 tice, the water flows down four or five of these furrows at once until it 

 reaches tne lower end, and then it is shut off and turned into another 

 series of furrows. Buffalo Voice. 



