IRRIGATION IN MEXICO. 



Power irrigation is not only followed extensively in the States 

 but is also carried on to a greater or less extent almost in every por- 

 tion of the world, and to show that it is even more primitive in some 

 of the older countries than the methods employed in the more modern 

 plants in the States we will describe briefly an odd plant which 

 is installed and in operation in the neighborhood of Guadalajara, 

 Mexico. This plant was installed by one Mora Y. Lopez de Lara, and 

 from information supplied us, the plant is giving the best of satis- 

 faction. 



In this section of the country from June to October, included, 

 there is rain in the afternoon each day, as in most of the hot zones. 

 This rain perhaps is greater in some sections than in others and 

 might be described as raining in streaks. Ditches or trenches are 

 stretched out on the land over which rain is expected to fall and the 

 water is collected in the small ditches on the high lands and concen- 

 trated into basins located in the lower sections. These basins will 

 hold on an average of about 1,000. 000 gallons and after the rain has 

 fallen and the water has been collected into the basins, the plant is 

 put into operation and by suitable pipe connections from the basins, 

 suction connection is made to a centrifugal pump conveniently loca- 

 ted outside of the pump house or engine room, and through properly 

 arranged discharge pipe the water is discharged into the distributing 

 trenches and flows over certain sections of land which are generally 

 used for raising garden truck and the like. 



The plant herein described consists of three basins. These basins 

 are connected by suitable pipe from their bottom so that they all have 



