EARLY IRRIGATION. 



The most prominent feature in the history of the gradual growth 

 and development of man, is agriculture. Having its origin in neces- 

 sity its development of man is agriculture, advancement to the highly 

 civilized plans he has obtained. Beginging with the use of nuts 

 fruits, roots and game obtained in the wild state, the requirements 

 became more exacting, for man is in nature never satisfied. The re- 

 sort to planting and growing for themselves the different fruits which 

 the early inhabitants of the earth had been accustomed to use. was 

 but a natural outcome of observing how seeds sprouted, grew and pro- 

 duced the very articles of diet with which they were familiar. The 

 increase of population in the "Cradle of Man," gradually forced the 

 weaker tribes into the great deserts to the west. Here they encount- 

 ered the hardest conditions, finding nature -against them in a land 

 where water was scarce and where no vegitation could grow except in 

 the immediate vicinity of springs. It was under rigorous conditions 

 that the desert tribes lived and grew in numbers and strength. 



By reason of their surroundings and the hard struggle for exist- 

 ence, these people became fatalists. Under the later influence of the 

 Koran their fanatical instinct were aroused and they went forth to 

 the conquest of the worid, to convert all to the doctrines of Moham- 

 med. They are today a sturdy wiry race, but from the first their 

 training has been in the hard school of adversity. Theirs was not a 

 land flowing with milk and honey, but what they raised was by the 

 abundant sweat of the brow. The culture of their simplest necessi- 

 ties meant indefatigable and patient labor. 



From time immemorial irrigation has been practiced by man in 

 aid of agriculture; in fact the birth of agriculture was in irrigation. 

 The idea undoubtedly originated in the apt illustration afforded by 

 the oases in the deserts. Here, with surrounding sand, hot, blister- 

 ing, drifting sand, absolutely devoid of vegetation, the hardy sons of 

 the desert were wont to seek the grateful shade. Beside the springs 

 they could lie in the shadow of the date palm, and sleep the sleep of 

 the weary, rising, refreshed and ready for the next journey which was 

 measured from oasis to oasis. It was but natural for man to ^bserve 

 that where springs and water were plentiful vegetation throve. By 

 the cultivation of the larger of these oases they raised the food nec- 

 essary for their simple diet. When they needed more land for agri- 

 culture, it was but natural to attempt to moisten the soil. To secure 

 water for this, wells were dug. From these the water was drawn by 



