162 Irrigation and Drainage 



irrigated yield, and through a distance of about 58 

 inches. 



Then, again, in the case of some experimental plots 

 of oats which were separated by a naked strip 2 feet 

 wide, and kept free from weeds by surface hoeing, the 

 following distribution of water was found on July 

 19, 1889: 



Table showing distribution of soil moisture in oats and in adjacent 

 fallow strip % feet wide 



In oats 2 ft. In oats 1 ft. At edge In center 



from path from path of oats of path Difference 



Depth of sample PER CENT PER CENT PER CENT PER CENT PER CENT 



0-6 inches 8.08 11.43 3.35 



6-12 " 7.51 11.80 4.29 



12-18 " 10.61 15.42 4.81 



18-24 " 14.01 18.78 4.77 



0-24 10.40 10.05 10.70 14.35 



It will be seen from these percentages that there is 

 a very marked higher per cent of water in the fallow 

 strip than there is immediately adjacent to it in the 

 oats, and from this it might be inferred that the oats 

 was not being fed from the fallow strip. This inference, 

 however, would not be correct, for it was found that 

 the yield of oats on a strip 1 foot wide, on the south 

 side of the path, was 39 per cent larger than from a 

 corresponding area in the center of the plot 12 feet 

 wide, while the yield on the north side of the path 

 was 28.7 per cent larger, showing very clearly that 

 there was better feeding in consequence of the narrow 

 2 -foot path. 



In view of such facts as these, and practical experi- 



