33 



point about 60 rods above the limits of the farm. There are two 

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

 the water is conveyed in an open ditch and about five acres are 

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

 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 conveyed by means of a branch ditch along one end 

 of this area and then, as needed, turned down between the rows of 

 small fruits and vegetables. About one 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 con- 

 structed and a pond formed. The water from this pond was used 

 in watering about two 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 two acres of 

 bottom land are a compact 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 Crescent strawberries produced at the 

 rate of 10,400 quarts per acre. In 1895, with a very severe 

 drought in strawberry time, Mr. Albiston claims that his crop was 

 the best he ever produced. The Black-cap raspberries and black- 

 berries have each year produced exceptionally fine crops by the aid 

 of irrigation. Potatoes have been irrigated during seasons of 

 drought. In 1894, which was a very unfavorable season for pota- 

 toes, the crop obtained by the aid of irrigation yielded at the rate 

 of 300 bushels to the acre. Mr. Albiston is especially fortunate 

 in being able to irrigate on quite an extended scale at a very small 

 cost. Under conditions of this kind irrigation must pay a very 

 fine profit. 



The Hale Brothers of South Glastonbury, extensive growers of 

 fruits and of nursery stock, have adopted one of the most exten- 

 sive systems of irrigation to be found in New England. It differs 

 from the system just described by having the water conveyed in 

 iron pipes for a distance of nearly one mile. A small brook, which 



