4th February, A. D. 1897. 



ESSAY 



BY 



HENRY H. CHAMBERLIN, Worcester, Mass. 

 Theme: — Irrigation as a Means of Fertilization. 



Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Society. — I pro- 

 pose to read to you a paper ou Irrigation and High Culture. I 

 have chosen this theme, partly because of its great interest and 

 importance ; and partly because I had already given some attention 

 to it, and had once read a paper on the subject to a local society, 

 whose members, if any are present, will pardon me for again bringing 

 it to their attention. 



I may say that if I had been aware of the contract I had under- 

 taken, I would not have tried to boil down to a single paper the vast 

 amount of information on these subjects that has come under my 

 notice. I am amazed to find what large books it takes to hold what 

 I don't know. 



In order to show the vast importance of irrigation to the farmers 

 and gardeners, I have made an abstract of a table sent me from the 

 Bureau of Agriculture at Washington, giving the percentage of 

 water in many of the ordinary products of the farm and garden ; and 

 this will serve to introduce the subject with which I propose to 

 attempt your entertainment and possible instruction. 



And when it is known that " more than half the human race subsist 

 upon the products of Irrigated Lands," the subject is seen to be a 

 matter of paramount importance. 



As showing its appreciation by the practical western farmer, it is 

 related that a clergyman travelling through western Kansas, arrived 

 in midday, at a farm showing evidence of abundant prosperity ; after 

 partaking of a hospitable meal, he piously remarked to the host, " I 

 notice that you have very abundant crops ; you should be very grateful 



