396 Irrigation and Drainage 



and would answer admirably for a small market- 

 garden, where vegetables and fruits are raised. 



SUB -IRRIGATION 



This method of applying water consists in plac- 

 ing lines of tile or perforated pipe varying dis- 

 tances below the surface of the soil, and distributing 

 water through these instead of in furrows or by 

 methods of flooding. This system of irrigation 

 quickly suggests itself to most thoughtful men when 

 they first begin to handle water for irrigation, on 

 account of the many difficulties and inconveniences 

 which are associated with surface watering ; but there 

 are several very fundamental objections to it which 

 have usually led to its abandonment sooner or later 

 in nearly every place where tried. 



Were it not for the objections just referred to, 

 sub -irrigation would constitute an ideal method of 

 applying water, and would be universally practiced. 

 Could it be used, much of the expense of fitting 

 the surface would be avoided ; the fields would be 

 almost wholly unobstructed ; all of the ultimate dis- 

 tributaries would become permanent improvements ; 

 the surface of the soil could not become puddled ; 

 mulches developed would not be periodically destroyed, 

 and the duty of water would be vastly increased. 

 Indeed, so many things appear to be in favor of the 

 method that it is only with great reluctance that it is 

 abandoned. 



The most insuperable difficulty with sub - irrigation 



