METHODS OF APPLYING WATER. iSl 



it may be distributed from several points between 

 dams. 



Furrow or Rill System. — It is best to irrigate 

 gardens and orchards by the furrow method. An even 

 greater difference comparatively in the quantity of 

 water used obtains in the furrow irrigation of fruit trees 

 and vines than in the case of cereals. To such an extent 

 does this prevail that not only do distri(5ts differ, but, 

 of two neighbors who cultivate the same fruits in con- 

 tiguous orchards, having exadlly the same slope and 

 soil , one will use twice or thrice as much water as the 

 other. Judging as far as possible from confiidling tes- 

 timonies, the cardinal principal appears to be just the 

 same. As we have endeavored to show, it is desirable 

 to have the lateral taken out of the main canal at a 

 point higher than the grade of the ground to be irri- 

 gated. A practical example of this diversion of water 

 is to be seen in Fig. 51, where a distributing gate 

 diverts the canal water through a lateral to the fur- 

 rows of an orchard. In garden and orchard work the 

 chara<5ler of the furrow is governed largely by circum- 

 stances, and the kind of planting will largely govern 

 one's adlions in laying out furrows. From a general 

 head furrow smaller ones are run at right or obtuse 

 angles into the plantation. A grade of one inch to 

 the rod is usually sufficient, and an orchard should be 

 set with this end in view. In the west we prefer to 

 have the trees set closest together in the north and 

 south rows, so that one tree shades another from the 

 two o'clock sun, which in winter especially is very 

 damaging to young trees. Always set orchard or 

 small fruit rows to conform to the proper irrigating 



