1 HE IRRIGATION AGE. 



gation plant consists of a main ditch con- 

 nected with laterals and controlled by a 

 system of locks so that any one of the 

 twelve sections can be irrigated at will 

 without interfering with the others. From 

 the laterals the water is conducted into 

 the furrows. This system is what is known 

 as furrow irrigation. In order that each 

 of the tenants may have an equal show to 

 irrigate his portion of the land, Mr. Col- 

 lins has adopted an arrangement whereby 

 eaeh one of them gets the water every 

 sixth day, allowing fifty-five minutef to the 

 acre. Thus only two irrigate at any one 

 time. In connection with the irrigation 

 plant there is an immense reservoir of 4- 

 000,000 gallons capacity, holding the sur- 

 plus water, and which Mr. Collins recently 

 stocked with fish. 



The entire 140 acres are at present being 

 cultivated by experienced gardeners 1 

 though some of the land, owing to its hav- 

 ing been grubbed late in the season, is 

 planted to cotton and forage crops. After 

 these crops are gathered all the land will 

 be put in garden truck. These crops, how- 

 ever, present a striking and most interest- 

 ing conteast to those planted on the farm 

 adjoining Mr. Cellins' and which indicates 

 the solution of the problem of successful 

 agriculture in southwest Texas. Side by 

 side, with only a fence as a dividing line, 

 the crops in the adjoining field, consisting 

 of cotton, corn and sorghum, are in a most 

 pitiful condition on account of the drouth, 

 while the same kind of crops on Mr. Col- 

 lins' farm under irrigation are a delight to 

 the eye, and judging fiom their present 

 condition seventy-five bushels of corn or a 

 bale of cotton to the acre is a perfectly 

 safe estimate. 



Among the vegetable crops now nearing 

 maturity on the farm are tomatoes, canta- 

 loupes, cucumbers, onions, melons, let- 

 tuce, etc. Some of the farmers are now 

 gathering their second crop and are getting 

 the land ready for the third crop. Rad- 

 ishes, col i-r obi and lettuce are now being 



planted. In twenty days the radishes wilF 

 all be gathered, a few days later the coli- 

 robi and then the lettuce, when the land 

 will again be made ready for cabbage, caul- 

 iflower and some other crops. The gar- 

 deners find a ready sale for their produce 

 in the San Antonio markets, and I was 

 told by some of them that they expect to 

 cleor about $1,000 a year, and from the ex- 

 perience they have thus far had on the 

 farm they do not think it will fall below 

 their calculations 



For the establishment of the Eclipse 

 Gardens Mr. Collins deserves the plaudits 

 of not only the people of San Antonio, but 

 of the entire section of southwest Texas, 

 for he has set a powerful example and a 

 living illustration of how to reclaim a great 

 portion of our semi-arid lands for the use 

 and benefit of mankind. 



CURIOUS WATER EFFECTS. 

 Prof. Israel C. Russell of the United 

 States Geological Survey is at present ex- 

 amining the great lava covered plain of 

 Southern Idaho, through which Snake 

 River has cut its deer, canyon. Many 

 creeks and rivers rising in the mountains 

 on both sides of this plain lose their water 

 as they enter upon the pervious surface. 

 These percolate under ground to finally re- 

 appear in great springs far down the can- 

 yon walls. Some of the streams from' 

 these springs are literally large enough to 

 float a steamboat. It is the object of the 

 Geological Survey to locate the course of" 

 these underground waters beneath the 

 drouth stricken region and to indicate 

 where, by deep wells, water may be had 

 for the cattle or sheep which for lack of 

 water are unable to graze over the broad 

 area. There are many tracts of fertile 

 land embracing thousands of acres which 

 by the use of the waters now flowing to 

 waste might be made into productive farms 

 and orchards. This investigation is part 

 of the general study of the water resources 

 of the country, and the maps prepared will 

 add to the series exhibiting the probable 

 depth and character of the waters beneath' 

 the surface. 



