WATER SUPPLY 7 



In many sections land is too expensive not to realize con- 

 siderable profit from it, and excessive cropping is necessarily 

 being resorted to. In a dry season it so happens that much 

 capital is lying idle, and it is a profitable investment that pro- 

 vides for irrigation. We irrigate, therefore, because we are 

 compelled to in order to secure the best conditions for raising 

 crops in a dry season. 



SOURCE OF WATER SUPPLY 



This question we cannot go into in detail. Where one per- 

 son can secure water from natural springs or reservoirs, the 

 majority are dependent upon wind-mills, hydraulic rams, 

 steam-pumps, drawing in tanks or barrels, etc. This question 

 is not as important to the general public, we feel, as the eco- 

 nomical means of using water when it is available. By a little 

 ingenuity, on the part of our gardeners and agriculturists, more 

 or less water can be stored for a dry time. If by some means 

 enough can be retained from our wet- seasons to be used on 

 small areas, as, for instance, from one fourth of an acre to four 

 acres, or even less, the results will indicate whether it can be 

 made a profitable investment or not. It is always desirable 

 to have a good pressure or fall, if possible, as, even in sub- 

 irrigation in the greenhouse beds, if there is no pressure or 

 force to the stream, not nearly so good results are secured in 

 the same time. Where no pressure is present, however, the 

 same results can be obtained by having a slight incline, and 

 checking the flow at various points. This is accomplished by 

 damming up, if the irrigating stream be open, or by obstruct- 

 ing the flow by means of tins slipped between the joints, if 

 irrigating by means of tile, removing and replacing the tins as 

 the case demands. 



The extensive operations in the West are dependent in most 

 instances on a stream with considerable force and volume. 

 Many of the reservoirs in our more central and eastern states 

 will be on a less extensive scale, unless they are situated so as 

 to use the water-works of cities. They will have far less 

 pressure ; therefore the percolations will necessarily be more 

 natural, and that water brought into contact with the soil 

 nearer the surface will be the more available for the use of the 



