THE ADVANTAGES OF IRRIGATION. 15 



distance. There was no need of being told where were 

 the irrigating ditches. The eye of a novice could mark 

 tlii'in with accuracy as they wound about the foothill 

 slopes, dotting the landscape witli patches of emerald, 

 where lone settlers and busy towns were located. An 

 illustration of this condition is given in Figure 4, showing 

 the course of an irrigating ditch dividing the unbroken 

 prairie and a newly set orchard. 



It is in the horticultural pursuits that the highest 

 degree of perfection as the patrimony of modern irriga- 

 tion is to be realized. Under any system of irrigation 

 where a constant supply of water is to be had the horti- 

 culturist can plant with almost a certainty of gathering 

 a crop. Untimely frosts, insects and fungous diseases 

 are often to be contended with, but it is a great consola- 

 tion to feel sure that drouth cannot prevent the starting 

 of trees, plants and seeds in springtime, or cut short a 

 growing crop. Neither are floods likely to overflow, 

 except on low bottoms, and these are not the best places 

 for the most profitable orchards. One field or a small 

 portion of it can be watered without the rest being deluged 

 or even sprinkled, if desired. 



It is the writer's desire at this time to direct the 

 attention of horticulturists and farmers generally in the 

 "rain belt" to the benefits to be derived from an artifi- 

 cial supply of water to their crops. Some may scout the 

 idea and say it is not practicable, that it will not pay to 

 go to so much expense for the little use to be made of 

 the water ; but in all seriousness it may be said that it 

 will pay, and there are many places east of the arid 

 regions where irrigation is now considered by those who 

 have long tried it as almost indispensable. There is 

 scarcely an acre of ground under cultivation in North 

 America that would not produce more and better crops 

 if there was at hand an abundant water supply. There 

 aie seasons now and then in which the rains come just 



