412 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



berries large, color bright ; fruit not quite as sweet as on 

 the non-irrigated plots. Should judge the fruit from irri- 

 gated plots would sell for 2 to 3 cents per quart more than 

 that from non-irrigated." 



Mr. Eddy found that tke fruit from the non-irrigated 

 plots had to be sold for an average of 9 cents per quart, 

 while that from the irrigated areas brought 11 cents. At 

 these rates per quart, the fruit on the irrigated plots sold 

 at the rate of $584.76 per acre, and that on the non-irri- 

 gated at the rate of $187.47 per acre, — a difference of 

 $397.29 per acre in favor of irrigation. 



It will be readily seen that even with two acres of straw- 

 berries the increased returns obtained by the use of water 

 furnished quite a sum towards covering the expense of an 

 irrigation plant. 



Suggestions regarding Irrigation. 



The contour of most of the land of New England is such 

 as to readily admit of the conveyance and application of 

 water for irrigation. Streams, ponds and springs are com- 

 mon, and, except in cases of severe droughts, furnish an 

 adequate supply of water. Many crops, like strawberries, 

 raspberries and early vegetables, need irrigating, if at all, 

 early in the season, when the supply of water is often suf- 

 ficient, while perhaps later in the season it would not be. 

 Much of the land that would be improved by irrigation is 

 in valleys near to streams and ponds, which in many cases 

 are high enough to give a moderate flow on the areas below, 

 so the cost of getting the water would be merely nominal. 

 The soils used for many of our most profitable crops are 

 generally light and porous and leach water readily, but are 

 just the kind of soils that most need irrigating ; while our 

 best money crops, such as small fruits and vegetables, are 

 heavy users of water. There is no need of drainage in con- 

 nection with irrigation on soils of this class, as is often the 

 case where the surface soil is compact. 



Means of making Water Available. — The sources of water 

 for irrigation in New England are natural or artificial ponds, 

 streams and springs, and in some cases wells. In many 



