278 



THE IRBIGATION AGE. 



or tiles, and for that reasoa drainage should always be 

 arranged with a view of making a treble use of it. 



The line of irrigation is always along the line of 

 drainage, which is evident from the fact that drainage 

 is nothing more than disposing of the excess water that 

 flows through the soil. There is no other way for it to 

 reach the drain tiles except through the soil, and this is 

 true whether the soil is arid or a swamp. The flow of 

 irrigation water is necessarily in the same direction as 

 the drainage water, and hence it is economy to com- 

 bine them. 



If the water source is high enough above the field 

 to be irrigated or drained, a sufficiently large reservoir 

 or retaining ditch should be provided. From this, what 

 may be called the "velocity water," is to be supplied. 

 That is, the water naturally flowing downward toward 

 the drain pipes can not rise to the surface except by 

 seepage or infiltration, and then only when the lower 

 drain courses are closed at their intersection with the 

 transverse collecting drain. But water let in from an 

 elevated source, unites with the drainage water and 

 forces it to the surface or to any desired height, even 

 above the surface if necessary or required. 



Now, by closing the exits of the drain tiles at any 

 point, the water may be forced up through the vertical 

 vent wells or tubes and allowed to flow into distributing 

 ditches through which any part of the land may be 

 surface irrigated, and a double use of the drainage sys- 

 tem be effected. It is a convenient and profitable mode 

 of irrigating small, shallow rooted plants, strawberries, 

 for instance, and the tubers like potatoes that will not 

 stand water soaking. Likewise it is adapted to the 

 kitchen garden and floriculture. 



It is an admirable system for what is termed 

 "winter irrigation," where the water supply is more 

 abundant in the winter months than in the dry sea- 

 son. Sub-irrigation is practiced to fill the soil with 

 moisture, and then by storing the water, surface irriga- 

 tion becomes practicable when planting time arrives, 

 and when plants show their first true leaves. By that 

 time their roots are in moist soil and they grow to ma- 

 turity with very little after irrigation unless shallow 

 rooted. 



There are three classes or conditions of atmos- 

 phere or meteorological conditions existing in the great 

 west, however, which should be understood whenever 

 mention is made of "winter." 



In the arid and semi-arid regions of the south and 

 southwest, and on the Pacific slope where the Kuro 

 Siwa or Japanese ocean current creates a perpetual 

 spring climate, what is known as winter is the growing 

 period for cereals and garden products. In these lo- 

 calities the seasons are commonly divided into "wet 

 season" and "dry season," winter as it is known else- 

 where being unknown. If there be any rainfall at all, 

 it usually begins in October or November and ends in 

 April. Sometimes the rainfall for the season ranges 

 from four inches to ten, sometimes reaching fourteen 

 inches, the latter quantity being sufficient to raise a fair 

 crop of grain without irrigation, but in the case of 

 corn and vegetables constant cultivation is required. 



In these regions winter irrigation is beneficial for 

 deciduous plants, which overcome their winter sleep 

 and spring into life in March or April, small fruits, 

 orchards and the like, for it fills the soil with moisture 

 at a greater depth than the rainfall can reach, and when 

 a trifle of surface irrigation is added, they grow and 

 produce profitably. 



In the absolutely arid regions where there is an 

 absence of rain, or less than five inches, frequently as- 

 suming the form of what is known as a "Scotch mist," 

 nothing can be grown in the way of profitable plants 

 without irrigation of some kind. Now, if the sub-soil 

 can be charged with moisture it will be retained for a 

 long period if the surface soil be kept open and highly 

 pulverized to serve as a mulch, and with a little irriga- 

 tion it will perform wonders of plant growth. More- 

 over, by constant infiltration, an artificial water table 

 will finally be created which will become perpetual with 

 periodical additions. In irrigation there is always more 

 water put into the soil than is necessary for plant 

 growth, and the excess water, allowing for evapora- 

 tion, must flow down into the subterranean receptacles. 

 If there be a sloping field above, then it will perform the 

 duty of a storage reservoir for the lower one, and the 

 escaping water may be caught and utilized as has been 

 already described. 



The second climatic condition to be observed, is 

 where the region is cold and frosty in winter, but with- 

 out much snow or other precipitated moisture. Here, 

 winter sub-irrigation prepares the soil for spring culti- 

 vation, and sufficient water is retained for surface irri- 

 gation when needed to enable plants to start. Colorado 

 and western Kansas, with portions of western Nebraska 

 and eastern Wyoming, are illustrations. 



The third condition is where the snows of winter 

 are very heavy, equal to the rainfall in humid regions, 

 but the summers are dry. Northern Utah, Montana, 

 Idaho, Nevada and the Dakotas may be placed in this 

 category. In such regions, winter irrigation and drain- 

 age go together naturally. The soil is aerated, main- 

 tained in a friable, tillable condition, and almost as soon 

 as spring opens plowing and planting may begin. The 

 soil is charged with water which, if excessive, must be 

 drained off, and if insufficient, the drainage pipes are 

 closed and a uniform saturation induced. 



(Chapter XV mil be concluded in August issue.) 



It would almost seem that Providence has had a 

 hand in fitting Hon. P. W. Mondell for the duties of 

 a representative in the lower house of the National 

 Congress. 



He is distinctly a man of the people. 



He came up from the ranks. 



He made his own way and is as much of the 

 people today as he was when he "struck out" for him- 

 self a young and energetic boy only a few years ago. 



His association, employment and experience for 

 years have made him a many sided man. 



He understands mining conditions from long con- 

 tact with mining men and actual experience in devel- 

 oping the famous Cambria coal and coke district. 



He knows what it is to work with his hands as 

 well as his mind. 



He knows ranch, farm, irrigation and public land 

 problems as few other men in Wyoming know them. 



As a "pioneer" in Newcastle, its first mayor, a 

 State Senator and member of Congress four terms he 

 has had a legislative experience that admirably equips 

 him for the onerous duties of representing a State of 

 such diversified interests. 



As a speaker he has few superiors and his resume 

 of Eepublican history and Eepublican principles at Lar- 

 amie on accepting the nomination for a fifth term in 

 Congress would serve as a fine party platform should 

 not another line be written. Wyoming Tribune. 



