THti WAY TO MAKE CHECKS 



185 



large-check system permanent levees, either in rectangular form 

 or on the contour plan, are generally used. The small-check system 

 is chiefly laid off with temporary levees, quickly made with special 

 appliances and as quickly worked back to a level as soon as the 

 ground dries sufficiently after irrigation, and the whole surface 

 kept well cultivated until the time arrives for a restoration of the 

 levees for the next irrigation. The latter is the leading horticul- 

 tural mode. It is carefully described by Mr. Sydmer Ross, of 

 Fullerton, Orange County, California, as follows : 



The check system, as carried out in the best-handled orchards, entails 

 much hard work, but after you are through with an irrigation you know that 

 each and every tree has had its full supply of water or you know the reason 

 why. The ground must be cultivated, say, about 5 inches deep, so as to have 

 plenty of loose soil with which to throw up a high ridge. Then a four or 

 six horse "ridger" should be run once each way between the rows, if it is a 

 citrus or deciduous orchard, or twice should the trees be walnuts, because 

 these trees are grown about 40 feet apart. After this is done the ridger 

 should be run entirely around the outside of the piece to be irrigated, so as 

 to have as perfect a ridge as possible on the outside. One man will ridge 

 about 15 acres in a day. The ridger should be built with a steel plate extend- 

 ing along the bottom of both sides, bolted to the inside and projecting about 

 2 inches, so as to take good hold of the ground. Then with one horse 

 attached to what is locally known as a "jump scraper," one side of the checks 

 should be closed up, for the ridger in making the cross ridges breaks down 

 the first ridge at its intersection. These repairs were at first made with a 

 shovel, but the jump scraper, also called locally the "horse shovel," closes 

 up the gaps very quickly. The practice generally followed is to close up the 

 high side of the checks if the land does not cut by running water, but if it 

 cuts, close up the lower side. 



After closing up the checks the ditches are plowed out and then the V-- 

 shaped "crowder" is run twice through them. On lands inclined to cut it is 

 advisable that the length of the rows to be irrigated should not be over 250 

 feet, but in heavy land this distance can be considerably increased, if neces- 

 sary, without danger of cutting the ridges by too long a run of water. 



If the checks have been closed up on the low side of the ridge, it is 

 better to run the water to the ends of the ditch and water the last row first; 

 but if the high side has been closed up, it is best to water first the row 

 nearest the gate or the main ditch, as the 'Case may be, as in each instance 

 dry earth will thus be available, if necessary, to close up the checks. The 

 water is run down the row to the end tree, and as soon as the last check is 

 filled it is closed up, and so on till all are filled and closed, when the water 

 is turned down the next row. 



To do good work it is usual to allow three men for every 50 inches of 

 water, but in our own practice we have had much better results by dividing 

 up our water and running from 35 to 40 inches to a ditch and allowing two 

 men for such streams. In doing this we get better work and find it much 

 easier for the men. If everything is well in hand, each man will irrigate 

 about 30 acres in a day. 



For turning the water from the ditches into the checks metal dams or 

 tappoons are used. Some of these have a gate for the division of the water 

 when the stream is too large and is divided, and two rows are watered at the 

 same time. The gate is not a great success, as the water is apt soon to 

 cut its way under the tappoon, but it may be much improved by having a 

 shelf for the water to drop on after it passes through the opening. The com- 

 mon practice for dividing water is to throw a tappoon partly across the ditch, 

 putting a gunny sack on the opposite side to prevent cutting by the water. 

 This is, on the whole, fully as satisfactory as using the tappoon with a gate. 



All who follow this system should get ready for the water before it comes. 

 A great many seem to think that if they ridge up their land, close up the 

 checks, and plow out their ditches, everything necessary has been done. 

 Such is not the case, as, ditches that are liable to cut should be fixed in the 



