4IO 



IRRIGATION FARMING. 



of the cross-bar and tubing, may be screwed to the bar, 

 and sights may be attached to each end of the level half 

 an inch above the top surface, or even small, flat phials, 

 four inches long or so, can be used instead. Two pegs, 

 four inches in hight, with holes bored through near the 

 top, may be driven into the bar to be thus used for 

 sighting. For the sighting-rod or flag use a two-inch 

 batten ten feet long, planed and 

 plainly marked in feet and inches, 

 from the bottom up. Then with a 

 cheap tape line, two rods or half a 

 chain long, measure the distances, 

 take levels, and set the depth stakes 

 for digging the ditch. 



A Ditch Cleaner.— A home- 

 made affair consists of the forks of 

 a tree cut ten feet long, on one 

 side of which is bolted a share of 

 sheet iron. The arrangement is 

 exhibited in Fig. loi. The plow 

 is heavily weighted, and can be 

 pulled through irrigation ditches, 

 canals, or creeks, by horses. Two 

 men, with four horses, can do the 

 work of fifty ditch men with shovels. The pole is 

 used to raise the front of the ditcher when necessary. 

 A man swings his weight upon the back, and thereby 

 lifts the front or point from the mud. A big hook 

 is bolted on the top, to which the double-trees are 

 attached by a long chain. In ordinary work two 

 horses can pull the ditcher, but in most cases, where 

 the ditches are filled with mud and gravel, two teams 



FIG. lOO — A HOME- 

 MADE SPIRIT-LEVEL. 



