No. 4.] IRRIGATION IN MASSACHUSETTS. 155 



water reaches the soil as a very fine mist. By using this system of 

 irrigation water may easily be applied all night, and in a period of 

 eight and a half hours an inch of water be evenly distributed over 

 an acre. It takes 27,152 gallons of water to cover an acre 1 inch 

 deep, and this is usually enough water to apply at one time. If 

 put on with a J^/i-ineh hose it would take a man a little over five 

 and a half hours to cover the acre. 



There is seldom a year that it is not necessary to irrigate some. 

 An application of 1 inch a week during the three summer months 

 to almost any crop would usually prove very profitable. At 30 cents 

 per 1,000 gallons, the cost would be a little over $8 for each appli- 

 cation. If one has his own water supply and good economical engine 

 and pump he can apply an acre-inch for less than $2. (An acre- 

 inch is the number of gallons required to cover an acre of land 1 inch 

 deep.) An outfit to be economical must be in good running order 

 and possess a high per cent of efficiency; that is, if the pump is rated 

 to deliver 90 gallons per minute it should come very close to doing so. 



Water should be applied to the soil before plants show any suf- 

 fering for want of it. The best time of day to apply water is be- 

 tween 6 o'clock P.M. and 6 o'clock a.m., as there is then less evapora- 

 tion, and more water gets down to the subsoil where the roots can 

 get it. The next best time to apply water is on a drizzly or loweiy 

 day. It is better not to water during a showery day. If a crop is 

 being injured by a very burning wind it is time to get busy, and 

 spray on enough water to prevent further injury. Good cultivation 

 must be combined with irrigation to make the latter pay. 



Too much water may easily injure crops early and late in the sea- 

 son, but in midsummer there is very little danger of giving too much 

 water. In regard to buying an equipment: purchase pipe, hose and 

 fittings of some good wholesale house, and get enough piping tools 

 to instal the equipment yourself. Get all nozzles and fittings for 

 the Skinner system from the only company that makes them, at 

 Troy, 0. 



In summing up it may be said that irrigation vastly improves the 

 quality and quantity of crops, increases the profits, and gives the 

 satisfaction that comes from growing the best and biggest crops. 



