CHAPTER XI. 



METHODS OF APPLYING WATER. 



The methods of irrigation in vogue are as varied ;is 

 the topography of the country. So much depends u\fim 

 the proper application of water that the practice of irri- 

 gation often results in failure unless it has received care- 

 ful consideration and study. The amount of water a 

 crop should receive, the time in its development to ob- 

 tain the best results, the methods of applying water to 

 different crops, together with that skill in accurate and 

 economical manipulation which comes through practice 

 and experience, are some of the important considerations. 



It has been found that practically a 70 per cent satu- 

 ration of the soil will give the best results. Speaking in 

 a broad way, a soil will retain its own bulk not its own 

 weight of water, some soils more and some soils less. 

 Now if fully saturated, and wheat, rye, orchards and 

 vineyards are planted, they will not grow. But if the 

 soil is given 70 per cent of the water which it can take 

 up, so that there is circulation of water and air within 

 the soil, then the plants can take their almost infinitesi- 

 mal drinks of water and grow with the greatest rapidity. 

 The soil carries this water up to the plant and the plant 

 uses a part of it and evaporates it into the air. 



Evenness of distribution is important. For instance, 

 if there is twice the amount of water on one place that 

 there is in another, the ground will dry unevenly, and 

 the dry patches will be too dry before the wet spots are 

 dry enough to plow, for in irrigating orchards, or any 

 crop that requires cultivation, the plow or cultivator 



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