IQO 



IRRIGATION FARMING. 



and does not prove that such is the corredl way to 

 irrigate them. For instance, allowing the water to 

 touch the trunk of a tree is radically wrong. In the 

 center of the basin should be left a mound of dry soil 

 around the trunk of the tree, at least two feet in diam- 

 eter, and three or more would be better. Instead of 



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FIG. 55 — THE BASIN SYSTEM. 



heaving up earth on the lower side and making a pond 

 of water, of which the pressure will puddle the bot- 

 tom and prevent the access of air to the roots, by cov- 

 ering it with a hard, tight crust, the basin should be 

 made in the form of concentric rings ; or, where the 

 hill is too steep in crescents, one above the other, and 

 leading one into the other. The basins may be filled 

 by hose, watering-carts, or by pipes, but the writer 

 considers the plan scarcely worthy of adoption. 



Another plan to convey water to the roots of trees 



