236 DRY FARMING 



katchewan, in the vicinity of the Cypress Hills, where the 

 water is used almost exclusively for the irrigation of hay 

 lands. 



184. Methods of Irrigation.— There are various 

 methods of applying water to the crops. The one best 

 suited to a particular locality, or a particular crop, de- 

 pends upon a number of factors. Among these might be 

 mentioned (1) the nature of the surface of the land, 

 whether it has a steep slope or is fairly level, (2) the 

 character of the soil, and (3) the kind of crop grown, in- 

 cluding the value of the crop, the latter determining how 

 much expense might Idc warranted for the construction 

 of the system. Among the methods used are (1) Wild 

 Flooding, (2) the Furrow System, .(3) the Bedding 

 System, (4) the "Check" System, (5) the Border Sys- 

 tem, and (6) Sub-irrigation. 



185. Wild Flooding. — This is the earliest and crudest 

 system known. By it the water is diverted from rapidly 

 flowing streams by plow furrows or small cheaply con- 

 structed ditches and so spread over the bottom lands 

 adjacent to the stream, the idea being either to increase 

 the yield of native hay or to insure a crop of small 

 grains. The water is taken out of the ditches at con- 

 venient points and allowed to run practically at will 

 until it reaches the lower ground, or possibly goes back 

 into the stream again. 



186. The Furrow System. — This is used where the land 

 has a steep slope, and often where the supply of water is 

 limited. It is also employed in the irrigation of garden 

 truck and all crops grown in rows. For the irrigation 

 of grain crops with this system, shallow furrows three or 

 four feet apart are made on the land after the crop is 

 sown but before it comes up. The water is allowed to 



