i'2 



THE IRRIGATION AGE. 



THE WASTE IN IRRIGATION. 



The quantity of water which plants -use forms but 

 a small part of that which is diverted from streams for 

 irrigation purposes. Large volumes are lost Dy aosorp- 

 "tion and seepage in the earthen channels of canal sys- 

 tems. Similar losses occur in the laterals which supply 

 our farms and a large part of the remainder is wasted 

 in irrigating crops. An irrigator is chiefly concerned 

 in lessening the waste of water in his supply ditch and 

 on his farm. In localities where water is scarce, the 

 supply ditch should be made water-tight. This may be 

 done by lining the channel with cement concrete, cement 

 plaster, asphalt, heavy crude oil or clay puddle. Flumes 

 or pipes may also be used as a substitute for an earthen 

 ditch. 



One of the most common'sources of loss of water is 

 noor preparation of the surface. When the soil is irri- 

 gated by flooding from field laterals an uneven surface 

 causes needless waste of water, extra labor in spreading 

 it over the surface and smaller yields. The water flows 

 into the low nlaces, which receive too much and may 

 become water-logged while the high places are left with- 

 out water and the crop thereon is dwarfed. The sur- 

 face between field laterals should be so evenly graded 

 that water will flow in a thin sheet over the entire sur- 

 face, the excess being caught up by the lower lateral. 



Another common cause of waste is the lack of at- 

 tendance. Water is often turned on a part of a field 

 are permitted to run without attention for'- hours and 

 even davs. On some, farms the irrigators look after the 

 water for ten hours and turn it loose fo'r the remainder 



of the day. Under thia practice the low places receive 

 too much, the high places little or none, and a large part 

 flows off the field to the injury of the roads and adjoin- 

 ing farms. 



Too shallow and too frequent irrigation is another 

 source of waste. Wetting the surface and neglecting to 

 cultivate it afterwards may result in the loss by evapora- 

 tion of three-fourths of the water applied in this way. 

 For most plants, and for all deep-rooted plants in partic- 

 ular, the ground should be so prepared that water will 

 readily percolate to a considerable depth beneath the 

 surface and enough water should be applied to moisten 

 the subsoil. As we have said again and again in farm- 

 ing by irrigation, thorough and frequent cultivation is of 

 first importance. It not only prevents the escape of 

 large quantities of soil moisture into the air in the form 

 of vapor but it greatly improves the condition of the 

 soil. Denver Field and Farm. 



A Bargain. 



He: Miss Hunt, I love you, but now I dare not dream 

 of calling you mine. Yesterday I was worth ten thousand 

 dollars, but today, by a turn of Fortune's wheel, I have but 

 a few paltry hundreds te call my own. I would not ask you 

 to accept me in my reduced state. Farewell forever. 



She (eagerly) : Good gracious ! Reduced from $10,000 to 

 $100! What a bargain! Of course. I'll take you. You 

 might have known I couldn't resist. The Circle. 



Send $2.50 for The Irrigation Age 

 1 year, and the Primer of Irrigation 



"RUMELY" 



Threshing 

 Machinery 



Single and Double Cylinder Coal 

 and Straw-Burner Traction 

 Engines. 



Rumely "Ideal" Separators, Wind 

 and Attached Stackers. 



Ruth Self Feeders. 

 Grain-Handling Attachments. 



CLOVER AND ALFALFA 

 HULLBRS 



PLOWING ENGINES 



M. RUMELY CO. 



Manufacturers 

 LA PORTE : INDIANA 



