1 14 ' THL 1RRI GA Tl ON AGE. 



will spread evenly and flow rapidly over the ground so as to cover the 

 entire bed. The ends of the beds should come up to the main ditch 

 or a large lateral ditch, so that the water can be turned in full volume 

 out of ditch on to the end of the bed. To do this, construct a dam (see 

 how to make a dam in another paragraph,) about opposite the ridge 

 which separates the bed to be watered from the next bed below it, and 

 then cut the lower side of the wall of the ditch about the middle of the 

 bed to be watered and allow the full volume of water in the ditch to 

 flow out onto the end of the bed to be watered . The bottom of the 

 ditch, as we have before said, 'should be above the level of the ground 

 composing the bed. 



The length of the beds will depend entirely on the lay of the 

 ground and kind of soil. IE comparatively level but sloping gently, 

 10 to 40 rods is a good length. The height of water in the reservoir 

 above ground level, kind of soil and slope of the land all have certain 

 effects, and no general rule will fit every case. It may be well to make 

 short beds under one condition, while in certain cases beds may be 

 made 80 rods long. 



To irrigate such crops planted as potatoes, both Irish and sweet, 

 and corn, they should be watered between the rows. To do this, a 

 furrow should be run between the rows, beginning at the end of the 

 land by the ditch, and only water enough turned on from the ditch to 

 fill up the furrows. 



Vegetables and all crops that are started by level cultivation (ex 

 cept field crops, such as wheat, barley, rye, oats and grasses,) should 

 be watered in small areas, or over shorter distances, to avoid over or 

 else insufficient watering. As soon as vegetables can be cultivated in 

 rows then the water should be confined to the space between the rows 

 when irrigating. 



To turn the water on arrange the dam in the main ditch just be- 

 low the point at which you wish to turn the water into the lateral, 

 (the usual method is to construct a box with trap in main ditch just 

 below the juncture of ihe latter with the main ditch, and also 

 have the same kind of dam across tho lateral a few feet 

 from its juncture with the main ditch, so that the main 

 ditch may be closed and the lateral opened, or vice versa}, and then 

 put in the dam across the lateral close by the ridge separating the 

 land below from the one you wish to irrigate; then cut the embank- 

 ment at the lateral on the side next to the land to irrigate. 



Then open the waterbox of the reservoir by lifting the trap door 

 just enough to allow as much water as you can use, without waste, to 

 flow out into the main ditch. The water will flow rapidly along the 

 main ditch until it reaches the lateral, and will then follow it to 

 whe^e you cut the bank and then will follow out and over the bed. 



