406 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



Some Instances of Successful Irrigation. 

 In the year 1895 the writer made a special study of irriga- 

 tion in Connecticut, and will here give a brief description of 

 some of the most successful plants found in operation. Prob- 

 ably the oldest irrigation plant in Connecticut, which is still 

 in operation, is located on the farm of Joseph Albiston at 

 South Manchester. The privilege was granted in 1796, the 

 water being taken from a small stream at a point about 60 

 rods above the limits of the farm. There are two small irri- 

 gation plants now in use on this farm. In the older one the 

 water is conveyed in an open ditch, and about 5 acres are 

 watered from it. This plant was for many years used in irri- 

 gating grass, and fine crops of hay were obtained. During 

 the past twenty years Mr. Albiston has used it mainly for 

 watering small fruits and vegetables. Of the area watered 

 from this canal about three acres are nearly level, having a 

 fall of less than 5 feet in 400 feet. The water can be con- 

 veyed by means of a branch ditch along one end of this area, 

 and then, as needed, turned clown between the rows of small 

 fruits and vegetables. About 1 acre, on quite a steep slope 

 just below the main ditch, is thoroughly watered by seepage, 

 the water percolating through the soil a few feet below the 

 surface for a distance of about 4 rods from the main ditch. A 

 second plan of irrigation on this farm was put in operation 

 a few years ago. Near where the brook enters the farm a 

 small dam was constructed and a pond formed. The water 

 from this pond was used in watering about 2 acres of bottom 

 land on the opposite side of the brook from the area watered 

 from the main ditch. Most of the irrigated area consists of 

 a gravelly loam, but the 2 acres of bottom land are a com- 

 pact loam with a hard-pan subsoil. This area has been 

 underdrained, and the surplus water used in irrigating is 

 conveyed off in these drains. 



Mr. Albiston has found the use of irrigation especially 

 profitable on strawberries. Since he has irrigated this crop 

 he rarely fails to obtain large yields, while before irrigation 

 was employed he says partial failures from drought were 

 common. In 1894, 32 square rods of land planted with 



