THE IRRIGATION OF CITRUS GROVES. 335 



side has been closed up, it is best to water first the row 

 nearest the gate or the main ditch, as the case may be, 

 as in each instance dry earth will thus be available, if 

 necessary, to close up the checks. The water is run down 

 the row to the end tree, and as soon as the last check is 

 filled it is closed up, and so on till all are filled and 

 closed, when water is turned down the next row. 



"To do good work, it is usual to allow three men 

 for every fifty inches of water, but in our own practice 

 we have had much better results by dividing up our 

 water and running from 35 to 40 inches to a ditch and 

 allowing two men for such streams. In doing this we 

 get better work and find it much easier for the men. If 

 everything is well in hand, each man will irrigate about 

 thirty acres in a day. 



"For turning the water from the ditches into the 

 checks metal dams or tappoons are used. The gate is not 

 a great success, as the water is apt soon to cut its way 

 under the tappoon, but it may be much improved by hav- 

 ing a shelf for the water to drop on after it passes 

 through the opening. The common practice for divid- 

 ing water is to throw a tappoon partly across the ditch, 

 putting a gunny-sack on the opposite side to prevent cut- 

 ting by the water. This is, on the whole, fully as sat- 

 isfactory as using the tappoon with a gate. 



"All who follow this system should get ready for 

 the water before it comes. A great many seem to think 

 that if they ridge up their land, close up the checks and 

 plow out their ditches, everything necessary has been 

 done. Such is not the case, as ditches that are liable 

 to cut should be fixed in the weak places with brush or 

 burlaps. Old gunny-sacks cut open and spread out are 

 excellent for this purpose. Occasionally there are places 



