METHOD OF IRRIGATION 



211 



saturate the soil below the surface. In orchards where 

 trees are 16 to 20 feet apart, one furrow cannot do this 

 and several furrows are employed. The reason for using 

 only one furrow when the tree is young is that the roots 

 have not spread sufficiently to make use of water that 

 might be applied half way between the rows of trees; and, 

 moreover, the young tree needs little water. Fewer and 



FIG. 52. Furrowing land. 



deeper furrows are now generally used in the irrigation 

 of orchards and other crops. Fortier and others have 

 shown that the deep furrow has a decided advantage 

 over the shallow furrow. (Figs. 51, 53-55.) 



The furrow method is in many ways an ideal method 

 of irrigation. It enables the farmer to control the quantity 

 of water added to a soil. It makes it possible to spread a 

 small quantity of water over a relatively large area of 

 land. It prevents the washing and consequent destruc- 



