213 



THE IRRIGATION AGE. 



longer in winter than in summer, until it is all ab- 

 sorbed. Or, when there is at hand a greater quantity 

 of water than is needed for ditch purposes, it is allowed 

 to flow over the tops of the dikes, in proportion as fresh 

 water is added, and then the water becomes flowing 

 water to be utilized upon a series of submergible fields. 



In the first case, that of stagnant or still water 

 charged with mud or other fertilizing material and food 

 supplies, the matter is deposited upon the soil, which, 

 in the case of sandy soil, or light loams, fertilizes and 

 consolidates them into consistency. 



In the second case, where the climate is frosty in 

 winter, plant life in the soil is protected; mud and 

 soluble materials are deposited in less quantities, and 

 the atmosphere, or oxygen in the soil is not completely 

 intercepted for the benefit of weeds and deleterious 

 plants. 



LAYING OUT THE LAND. 



The best arrangement of a tract of land designed 

 for submersion, is to divide it into sections, or basins, by 

 means of dikes or ridges, which may be thrown up by 

 the plow. Each section, fed by the ditch, retains its 

 water, the same being allowed to run into it laterally 

 until it stops, and becomes stationary or stagnant. In 

 this way the humidity in the soil is equalized or ren- 

 dered uniform-. 



On large level tracts, or where the subsoti is im- 

 pervious, the sections or basins may be enlarged. In 

 that case the flow into the basins should be hastened so 

 that every portion of .the basin be covered simulta- 

 neously, otherwise the humidity would not be uniform. 

 The only limit to the size or extent of these basins is 

 the supply of water and the facilities for flowing it 

 upon the soil. Several openings may be made from 

 the distributing ditch to hasten the process, and the 

 length of time the water is to remain upon the soil is 

 gauged by its permeability. The soil should not be 

 saturated unless a system of drainage is provided. This 

 can only be determined by testing the soil after the 

 water has been run off or is all taken up. If sodden, 

 there is too much, if after a few hours it will not pack 

 in the hand, it is ample. If the quantity of the flow 

 of water justify it, a number of basins may be sub- 

 merged simultaneously by openings made through the 

 ridges or dikes. 



Submersion without dividing the land into basins 

 causes a great loss of water. During the daytime 

 it is possible to regulate the flow of water, and with a 

 plow, furrows may be run in various directions, or a 

 hoe is often sufficient to direct the water uniformly 

 over the surface. But at night, it is not so easy to con- 

 trol the course of the flow, particularly on large tracts 

 of land. .Night irrigation of this kind is practised, 

 but the crop appears luxuriant in spots, v.'hich shows 

 lack of uniformity in the application of the water. 



As to the size of these basins to be submerged, the 

 lay of the land and the water supply must be the guides. 

 There are irrigated lands with submerged basins from 

 the extent of a small garden patch up to a hundred-acre 

 tract in alfalfa. 



In extensive tracts, particularly cereals, beets, etc., 

 flowing and ditch irrigation would be speedier and more 

 economical than submersion, and in many cases more 

 advantageous, particularly in the case of shallow rooted 

 plants. Thus flowing is preferable in the case of barley, 

 but submersion would be beneficial in the case of peas, 

 the former spreading out its roots near the surface, 



and the latter thrusting them down deep into the soil. 

 So, potatoes will not stand submersion, but beets can 

 scarcely be drowned out. In rice culture, as has been 

 said, submersion is essential. 



Should the land have a slope or grade impossible to 

 level, care must be taken to provide a lower dike suf- 

 ficiently high to overcome the height at the top where 

 the water supply enters, for in such case, the water at 

 the top of the grade would barely cover the soil, but flow 

 over the top of the lower dike and thus become flowing 

 water and not stagnant or stationary. 



Professor Schwerz, in his treatise on practical 

 agriculture, thus refers to the advantages and the 

 disadvantages of submersion : 



"By inundating the soil it is easy to shield a 

 field from any unfavorable temperature (heat or cold). 



"The preparations for inundation are generally 

 inexpensive. The food elements held in solution by 

 the water have ample time to be deposited upon the 

 soil. Insects injurious to vegetation, and which are not 

 destroyed by ordinary irrigation, are totally destroyed, 

 and the same may be said of noxious weeds in arid 

 soils. 



"On the other hand, many serviceable plants are 

 drowned by prolonged inundations; herbs are rendered 

 less hardy to changes of temperature, and hay and for- 

 age plants generally are of inferior quality. Inundation 

 is deleterious at the flowering period of plants, though 

 they can be irrigated beneficially in other modes. Fin- 

 ally, to inundate a large field rapidly throughout its 

 entire extent is to consume an enormous amount of irri- 

 gation water." 



From these considerations, the scientist draws the 

 conclusion that, "The choice between inundation and 

 ordinary irrigation must lie in favor of that ordinary 

 irrigation, although in turfy, tough soils, or one very 

 porous, inundation is more advantageous." 



NEVADA'S ENTERPRISING SPIRIT. 



Nevada's exhibit at the World's Fair will be full 

 of interest and variety. Executive Commissioner 

 Yerington visited St. Louis recently and accepted the 

 completed Nevada State building and arranged for 

 the installation of Nevada's collected exhibits. 



In the Mines and Metallurgy Palace Mr. Yering- 

 ton will exhibit specimens of 118 varieties of ore. Each 

 specimen will be catalogued and the World's Fair vis- 

 itor may ascertain the full history of the specimen, 

 from what mine it was taken, when, its value, etc. 

 Features will be the Yerington nugget, a 271-pound 

 lump of ruby silver that was taken from the mine at 

 Tonopah, and specimens of natural soap from the soap 

 mountain at Elko. 



A comprehensive agricultural and horticultural 

 exhibit will be made, fine specimens in all -lines hav- 

 ing been secured. 



In the transportation exhibit will be some marvel- 

 ously beautiful saddles and harness. One saddle with 

 silver mountings valued at $1,000 will be shown. 



Models of the Wadsworth irrigation canal will be 

 shown. This canal has been built at a cost of $1,000,- 

 000, and 75,000 acres of land that was arid have been 

 converted into fertile fields. 



The state building at the World's Fair is across 

 the avenue from the Pennsylvania building. It is of 

 the bungalow type and its interior is particularly in- 

 viting. 



