198 IRRIGATION FARMING. 



in that manner. A study of Fig. 58 gives one a prac- 

 tical idea as to how these furrows may be run and 

 manipulated. Flooding from one furrow to another is 

 a very simple matter and requires only a little experi- 

 ence on the part of the irrigator. 



It is, of course, understood that the furrow must 

 have some fall in order that the water will flow through 

 it, but it should be very little. On an easy grade the 

 ground washes less, and when a check is put in a ditch 

 that is almost level the water will flow over its sides 

 for considerable distance and so gently that it will 

 scarcely wash the steepest hillside, whereas if the 

 laterals run down the hill, as many farmers arrange 

 them, the water when dammed flows over for a short 

 distance only , and pours out all in a body, washing very 

 heavily. Some farmers persist in running their carry- 

 ing ditches for steep lands around the hill, while the 

 laterals run straight down the slope. It is the plan of 

 some to run the main carrying ditch down the hill, as 

 it may be protedled with boxes and gates at the places 

 where the laterals turn off, but the latter should circle 

 around the hill with just fall enough to carry the 

 water. It is a foolish idea to lay off laterals with the 

 fences. If more attention were given to this matter 

 irrigation would be a simple and easy thing. Potato 

 rows and other crops that are not flooded but irrigated 

 in furrows should also be run with the laj^ of the land. 



To raise a hoed crop on a steep field requires great 

 pains and ingenuity. If the surface is not wavy as 

 well as steep, the rows can be run diagonally, as de- 

 scribed, across the slope, so as not to give too much 

 fall, which would make the bottoms wash away and 



