30 



THE GENESEE FARMER 



IMPORTANCE OF WATER IX GAR- 

 DENING. 



AfcTHOUGH water is not less important in growing 

 all field crops than in the culture of garden products, 

 yet, as the returns realized from a given area are much 

 larger in the latter than in the former, one can often 

 afford to provide water to irrigate a garden, when to 

 irrigate his fields would be too expensive for profit, 

 or his limited means. At Blithewood, on the Hud- 

 son, a Water Tower has been erected which answers 

 an excellent purpose, and is described as follows in 

 the Horticulturist for March, 1853, by the proprietor: 



At the distance of 2,100 feet from the dwellinjr and gar- 

 dens, there is a hill GO feet high, adjoining one of the cata- 

 racts of the Sawkill — a stream which bounds the orna- 

 mental grounds. Upon this hill, which is level with the site 

 of the house, I have erected a tower in the form of an 

 Italian campanile (see accompanying sketch), which con- 

 taias tlie reservoir, and serves also as a prospect tower. 



The head of water below the 

 cataract is sufficient for driving 

 hydraulic rams or forcing pumps 

 to fill the reservoir to the top, 

 100 feet high and 300 feet dis- 

 tant. 



To avoid interruption by frost 

 m the use of an overshot water 

 wheel and pump, I adopted two 

 hydraulic rams (in case one 

 should stop) for constant use, 

 which are covered up, and ope- 

 rate incessantly. The supply 

 by rams is sufficient for all pur- 

 poses but fountains and jets 

 d'eau, which will require a forc- 

 ing pump to be used in the sum- 

 mer. The water tower is IS 

 feet square and 45 feet high, 

 placed upon a teiTace ior beau- 

 ty and to gain elevation. Within 

 this is a reservoir, 7 feet square 

 and 34 feet high, constructed in 

 the strongest manner, of oak 

 timber, and bolted with 1-inch 

 iron, and planked and lined with 

 lead — resisting at the bottom a 

 pressure of about 85,000 pounds. 

 I was induced to accumulate the 

 Avater in this expensive manner, 

 to obtain great pressure in the 

 pipes to prevent the gafher'mg 

 of sediment and air — to supply 

 baths and water closets in the 

 house, and jets d'eau and foun- 

 tains in the gardens and grounds. 



From the bottom the water is 

 conducted by 2-inch iron pipes, 

 3i feet below the sod, and lat- 

 eral pipes of lead, varying in size, 

 to su])ply hydrants tV>r root cul- 

 ture, irrigation, the cattle yard, 

 stable, the garder. rhe house, 

 and fountains. 1 he vv rter tower 

 occupies a conspicuoiK position, 

 and is highly ornam i tal. 



The results are so ^;atisfac- 

 tory and beneficial tl at I should 

 recommend similar improve- 

 ments wherever they can be 

 made. 



Mr. Cn.\RLES Calvert, 

 who has a fine estate called 

 •" Riverdale," a few miles 

 fiom ^Vashington, of 3,000 

 acre^, irrigates an extensive garden from a wooden 

 tower, some forty or fifty feet in height, into which a 

 full supply of water is pumped by horse-power. He 

 is about to erect steam works to irrigate his meadows, 

 pa,stures, and root crops, using cast-iron pipes for di.-*- 

 tributing water to dillerent lijdrants ; from these it 

 will be spread equally o^ver the ground through mova- 

 ble hose made of leather or gutta percha, as in fire 

 engines. 



ilydraulic rams are used by many to convey water 

 from small streams, having fall enough to work the 

 machines, to dwelhngs, and into yards, fields, and 

 stables, for stock. The benefits of a full supply of 

 running water for irrigation, and all domestic and 

 farmstead purposes, are not generally appreciated. 

 On a large majority of farms there fails in rain and 

 snow about a ton of water upon every square yard 

 in the course of the year. This water, if rightly used, 

 might render twice the service it now does. 



