THE IRRIGATION AGE. 



These laterals are shallow ditches about 3 feet wide and 

 6 inches deep and divide the farm into strips. On the 

 majority of farms the laterals do not exceed 1,320 feet in 

 length and are spaced 100 to 300 feet apart. On this par- 

 ticular farm their length is increased beyond the average 



Fig. 32 One Hundred and Twenty-Acre Subirrigated Farm of C. H 



and their width decreased. In this mode of irrigation no 

 water is spread over the surface; the laterals merely dis- 

 tribute 15 to 20 miner's inches each to different parts of 



Table giving the mean velocity and discharge of ditches with 

 different grades: 



LATERAL DITCH, FIGURE 29. 



near the surface to supply the needed moisture to the 

 roots of plants. Thereafter the height of the ground 

 water is regulated by the amount of water turned into- 

 the supply ditch. The rise and fall of the ground water is 

 determined by means of small boxes set in the ground 3 

 to 5 feet deep, as indicated by the 

 circles in figure 32. Twenty to 30 boxes 

 are usually required for each 80- 

 acre farm. All water is turned out of 

 the main canal prior to September 15 

 to permit the land to dry out for the 

 harvesting of such crops as sugar 

 beets, potatoes, etc. When the crops 

 are removed, a small stream is left 

 running in the main canal all winter; 

 but notwithstanding this supply, the 

 ground water usually falls from 6 to 

 20 feet below the surface during the 

 fall and winter months. This some- 

 what novel method of applying water 

 has led to the adoption of a rotation 

 of crops which seems to suit both 

 water and soil conditions. Alfalfa 

 does not do well after the third year. 

 This is chiefly due to the height at 

 which the ground water is kept dur- 

 ing the spring and summer months. 

 Then, too, the soil is lacking in 

 humus. These conditions have led the 

 farmers to grow alfalfa on a tract for 

 two or three years and then to turn 

 the alfalfa under and raise grain, sugar 

 beets and potatoes for the next three 

 years. Under this rotation the yields 

 per acre on well-managed farms are 

 40 to 60 bushels of wheat, 75 to 110 

 bushels of oats, 50 to 90 bushels of 

 barley, 300 to 500 bushels of potatoes, 

 15 to 20 tons of beets, and 4 to 6 tons 

 of alfalfa. The land sells for $100 to 

 $150 an acre. 



NOTES ON 



THE EIGHTEENTH 

 CONGRESS. 



IRRIGATION 



By R. H. Faxon. 



Interest in the irrigation exposition, to be held in con- 

 nection with the Eighteenth National Irrigation Congress, is 

 growing constantly. All the sections of Colorado are making 

 organized effort to be represented at the exposition and the 

 interest outside the state is also very large. There are calls 

 for reservations of space and daily inquiries in the offices of 

 the board of control, Pueblo, Colo. 



The interest among manufacturers of irrigation devices, 

 pumps, machinery, etc., is increasing rapidly and there is every 

 prospect that the exposition will be a success in that respect. 



Information may be had concerning this exposition by 

 writing the secretary of the board of control at Pueblo. 



the field, where it soon joins the ground water by sink- 

 ing through the bottoms of the shallow ditches. The 

 land is planted in the early spring when the ground water 

 is low, and then water is turned into the ditches and kept 

 in day and night until the ground water rises sufficiently 



DEL NORTE, COLORADO. 



Del Norte is located in the San Luis Valley, Colo. in 

 that vast irrigated plateau where the sun shines nearly 

 every day in the year. Once but a mining supply point, 

 the irrigated district has increased so greatly that the 

 business of the town is now almost wholly devoted to 

 supplying the wants of the irrigationist. 



Water is taken from the Rio Grande by direct flow 

 and has been applied to the soil for a number of years, 

 resulting in enormous crops crops that have taken prizes 

 at the state fairs and at even larger exhibits. 



There are about 600,000 acres of government land 

 left in the San Luis, some of which is within four miles of 

 Del Norte. Within a few years all of it will be under ir- 

 rigation. The town is growing rapidly, had an exhibit 

 at the Chicago land show, and offers excellent opportuni- 

 ties. 



Send $2.50 for The Irrigation Age, one year, and cloth- 

 bound copy of the Primer of Irrigation. 





