134 IRRIGATION. 



must be made in some other manner than that previously 

 described. But in all cases, whatever may be the charac- 

 ter of the surface, when there is a supply of water flow- 

 ing above the level of the ground to be watered, an irri- 

 gated meadow may be made. It may be a level piece of 

 land, or a piece sloping in one or two directions, or an 

 irregular surface having meandering slopes, or a hill side 

 so steep that wagons cannot be used upon it, any of these 

 may be brought under irrigation, if there is the requisite 

 supply of water. 



In preparing meadows for irrigation, the first consider- 

 ation is the selection of the ground. In this is included 

 the supply of water. It may be that the area that can 

 be covered by the water is too small to return a fair profit 

 on the venture, or the supply of water may be too small 

 for the area upon which it is to be spread. Close calcu- 

 lations should therefore be made, the supply closely meas- 

 ured and the needs accurately estimated. The first cost 

 of preparing the surface being almost the whole expense 

 to be incurred and this being less in proportion as the 

 area increases, it is a measure of economy to spread the 

 water over as much space as possible. If the water is 

 sufficient to flow one acre in one day, by dividing the land 

 into twelve plots and irrigating one each day in suc- 

 cession, the whole may be brought under the improve- 

 ment. 



Upon level lands or those which have but little 

 slope, and that in only one direction, the preparation of 

 the surface is very easy and simple. In this case the ir- 

 rigation will be by narrow channels, or ditches sodded or 

 sown over with grass which will offer no obstacle to the 

 mower when the crop is cut. The form of the distribut- 

 ing ditches will be of a very obtuse angle, or a light de- 

 pression of the surface sufficient to confine the current 

 of water which will flow over its edge or edges, and 

 spread in a thin sheet over the surface; slowly sinking in- 



