CHAPTER VIII. 



HOME-MADE 



IRRIGATION APPLIANCES. 



The effect of aridity is to stimulate the thinking- ma- 

 chine. He is most fortunate who can readily adapt him- 

 self to his environment. 



The farmer on irrigated land, has in manv 



APPLIANCES -,i T . . , , , 



cases, either to adapt implements made for use 

 in humid regions, to his own needs, or make new 

 ones himself. He may have to invent imple- 

 ments for special purposes. More home-made 

 appliances are found on the western irrigated 

 farms than anywhere else. Many of these can 

 be made quite cheaply and will serve the pur-- 

 pose as well as expensive tools bought from the 

 manufacturers. 



SAGE BRUSH The first work of the irrigator who has just 



settled on raw land is to get rid of the sage brush, 

 grease-wood, or other bushes found on the land. 

 Sage brush is not a deep or strong-rooted plant. 

 The roots of grease-wood are large and very 

 hard, but brittle. When the brush is small it is 

 easy to get rid of it by plowing, perhaps putting 

 on extra horses to pull the breaking plow, and 

 following to pull out the uprooted brush by hand. 

 Where the brush is larger this method may not 

 do and one has to buy a sage brush grubber, 

 made especially for the purpose, or find a substi- 



