IRRIGATING AND MANURING LAND BY STEAM-POWER, 



Results of much importance in farm economy have been realized in England by the use 

 of steam-power to irrigate and manure both cultivated and meadow lands. Whole farms 

 of several hundred acres have been increased four-fold in value and productiveness, with 

 a small outlay of capital, by a little skillful agricultural engineering. It is stated, on 

 what is regarded as reliable authority, that 112 pounds of coal will raise 715 tons of 

 water ten feet high, which will suffice to cover seven acres of ground an inch in depth. 

 This is equal to a steady rain of ten or twelve hours duration ; and it encourages the 

 hope that steam may soon give the farmer entire control over the most important 

 elements of all crops. Nearly half of the solids in all plants is composed of the elements 

 of water ; and it is the medium for conveying both mineral and organic food from the 

 soil into the cells and vessels of vegetables which have their roots in the earth. Hence, 

 to secure a perfect command of watej* — removing it promptly and cheaply when in 

 excess, and supplying it readily and economically when deficient in quantity — is a 

 desideratum of inestimable value, if attainable. Without resorting to rivers or creeks, 

 enough falls upon every farm and field in the course of twelve months, for all useful 

 purposes, if the surplus at one season be stored up to meet the deficiency at another. 



On one farm which has four hundred acres under artificial irrigation, the water is 

 pumped up seventy feet before it reaches the steading or barn-yard, where all the 

 manure is liquified by running water through it when the process of decay is going 

 on. Water thus charged with the elements of fertility, not in excess for immediate 

 absorption by the roots of plants, is forced by steam-power through iron pipes laid under 

 ground that lead to every field ; and from these " mains" lateral and smaller pipes are 

 extended, upon which penstocks are raised for the attachment of long hose, not unlike 

 those used by fire companies, from the pipes at the ends of which a perfect shower is 

 made to rain upon the thirsty land. The nozzle of the pipe from which the jet of water 

 issues is made quite flat, and a six-horse power engine enables a man and a boy to irri- 

 gate abundantly ten acres in as many hours. The cost of the iron pipes and hose on 

 Mr. Kennedy's farm, (the one referred to,) was £2 10s., or $12.50 an acre. For this . 

 trifling outlay in comparison with the objects attained, (the steam engine being used for 

 other purposes,) the farm now keeps four times the stock it was capable of feeding 

 before this system of manuring plants as they needed food, and supplying them at all 

 times with water when thirsty, was adopted. 



The reader will see that all the labor of hauling out and spreading manure is saved ; 

 while no crop ever receives more than it is able to take up and elaborate without waste. 

 Careful experiments have shown that 100 lbs. of guano applied in this economical man- 

 ner, give as good a result as 200 lbs. used in the solid form, and in the usual way. We 



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