360 



THE IRRIGATION AGE. 



PREPARING LAND FOR IRRIGATION 

 METHODS OF APPLYING WATER. 



AND 



From Bulletin 145, Courtesy U. S. Department of Agriculture. 



INTRODUCTION. 



The diversity in irrigation methods in use on 

 western farms is largely due to the early training and 

 environment of the irrigators themselves. Among 

 the 120,000 irrigators of Western America are to be 

 found nearly all classes and nationalities. Each settler 



public lands and irrigate only sufficient native meadow 

 and alfalfa to supply the needs of their stock in mid- 

 winter. With this class irrigation is a side issue and 

 seldom receives the attention which it deserves. 



Others again have another excuse for their poor 

 methods. They are tenants and wish to obtain the 

 greatest immediate returns for the least possible ex- 

 pense. At the other extreme one finds the so-called 

 ''a-griculturisjt," who makes his money selling merchan- 

 dise in the city and spends it on his farm in the coun- 

 try. This class is content with small returns for large 

 outlays; for to such people farming is a pastime. 



TdPERING LEVER 



I^STflPLE Of STRflp 



A'-e'PLATES 

 IROK 1^__ SPLIT PIN 



Rectangular leveler. 



from another State or from a foreign country intro- 

 duces on his farm some custom or practice common to 

 his old environment. This is particularly noticeable 

 in the conservative Chinese, who irrigate the truck 

 gardens near towns and cities in Chinese fashion. The 

 same is true of the Italians, Spaniards and Mexicans, 

 who imitate for a time at least the ways of their fore- 

 fathers. It also applies, but to a less degree, to those 

 who come from humid States. The farmer who lives 

 until maturity in the Mississippi Valley and then 

 moves west onto an irrigated farm does not as a gen- 

 eral thing adopt new ways of farming until crop fail- 



The size of the farm has also much to do with 

 the manner of irrigating it. On large farms it has 

 been difficult of late years to hire the help needed 

 during the busy season. In consequence, owners have 

 been forced to expend more labor and money in pre- 

 paring the surface for more rapid and easy irrigation. 

 On the other hand, the farmer who cultivates a small 

 tract with the assistance of his boys can obtain better 

 crops at less cost for implements, machinery, and ma- 

 terials by going without the latest improvement? and 

 having all labor performed by the members of the 

 family. 



I j,$ STRAPS 



Modified buck scraper (planer). 



ures compel him to do so. Even then the old ways 

 of doing things are mixed with the new. 



Then, apart from the influence which early train- 

 ing may exert, there is always present the vital ques- 

 tion of money. Many new settlers hare not the means 

 to prepare their fields for easy and efficient irrigation. 

 They are compelled to resort to crude methods, which 

 rob them of a part of their possible profits. 



The large stockmen pasture cattle and sheep on 



Another cause of diversity is the character of 

 the water supply for the farm. The way a field is 

 watered frequently depends on the manner in which 

 water is delivered. One man may receive a small flow 

 continuously for months, another may receive a large 

 volume for a short time, and a third may be depend- 

 ent on a mountain creek which may harve a flood in 

 May and be dry in July. It-will be readily seen that 

 all irrigation works pertaining to the farm should be 



