THE IERIGATION AGE. 



433 



from cistern for bathroom, sink, etc., is all that is to be 

 pumped, a hand outfit may be found satisfactory. It is- 

 not at all fitted for service where stock watering, lawn 

 sprinkling, carriage washing and similar purposes are to 

 be served. 



The plan of a new house should invariably incorporate 

 a water system even though the installation of the sys- 

 tem is not to be made immediately. In the same way in 

 the selection of a kitchen range or furnace it should be 

 seen to that the firebox has pipes for water heating or at 



l-Horsepower Outfit Combined Hand and Power Pneumatic Tank 

 System. Where a small amoutit of water is used one of these hand 

 operated outfits will be found quite satisfactory. Where a large amount 

 of water is to be used, power should be used for pumping. 



least so arranged that these may easily be put in place. 

 Heating from the range is in a measure more satisfactory 

 than from a furnace as the range is more likely to be 

 used the year round. Plans for the barn should also be 

 made with a view to having water brought into the build- 

 ing in inclement weather makes caring for stock a hard- 



The Eclipse is always artistic. 

 Many farm homes utilize the 

 windmill to secure a water pres- 

 sure system. The above shows 

 an especially attractive installa- 

 tion of this kind. 



ship. This is especially true during the severe weather 

 of winter. With a water pressure system it becomes an 

 easy matter to fit up a tank in all buildings where animals 

 are kept so that stock can be watered without exposure. 



Send $1.00 for 1 year's subscription to the IRRIGA- 

 TION AGE and bound copy of THE PRIMER OF IRRIGA- 

 TION. If you desire a copy of THE PRIMER OF HY- 

 DRAULICS add $2.50 to above price. 



THE IRRIGATION OF ALFALFA. 



By Alfred Atkinson, 

 Montana Agricultural Experiment Station. 



Under favorable growth conditions, alfalfa, with its 

 strong, widely spreading root system, is able to get food 

 for vigorous development. Favorable growth conditions 

 include proper temperature, good aeration and adequate 

 moisture supply. In the almost ideal climate of Western 

 Canada very profitable yields of this crop ought to be pro- 

 duced if the supply of moisture is regulated. The acreage 

 given over to the production of alfalfa is constantly in- 

 creasing. The question of the proper irrigation of the 

 crop is an important one. 



On account of the differences in the amount and dis- 

 tribution of the rainfall, as well as of other influencing 

 factors, the details of irrigation practice will, of necessity, 

 vary with the different localities. In some sections of 

 the western United States a winter precipitation with a 

 dry summer makes heavier irrigation demands than are 

 found in sections having greater rainfall during the grow- 

 iing months. Attention is directed to these facts to avoid 

 too close imitation of the practices discussed, when such 

 practices are not best. The hope is to bring out principles 

 involved and to refer to some of the important features 

 of the irrigation practice, with which the writer is familiar. 

 Out of the experience which comes from years of practi- 

 cal irrigation will come the details for the "best" system 

 for western Canada. 



For a permanent crop like alfalfa, it is important to 

 have the irrigation in mind before any planting is done. 

 Properly levelled fields irrigate more easily, and with 

 much greater economy than do those having slight irreg- 

 ularities over the surface. The first step in alfalfa irriga- 

 tion is to make a compact and carefully levelled seed bed. 



The land ought to be plowed a sufficient time before 

 seeding to allow the surface to settle. Where alfalfa is to 

 to be spring planted, fall plowing is wise. In sections 

 where alfalfa does not start readily, summer farrowing or 

 summer tilling the land the season previous sometimes 

 brings good results. In preparing the seed bed all dead 

 furrows should be disked in and the field should be 

 crossed several times with a leveller. The levelling should 

 be done the same way as the field was plowed, the cross- 

 wise of the plowing, and again across from corner to cor- 

 ner. If these three levellings do not remove the uneven- 

 nesses, the field should be crossed again. This may appear 

 like a lot of work; but when we remember that the crop 

 will be down for a number of years, it is apparent that a 

 little extra labor in preparation is a wise investment. 



Many kinds of levellers are in use and effectiveness is 

 not wholly confined to any one. A leveller that is favor- 

 ably spoken of is made as follows: Take two 2xlOs, 16 

 feet long, and fasten them together strongly with three 

 2xlOs, 8 feet long. These three cross pieces are to be 

 placed one close to the front, one near the rear, and the 

 third in the center. The front and back cross pieces are 

 to be slanted slightly so that they will not present a firm 

 cutting surface. The center cross piece ought to be 

 strongly braced in an upright position and fitted with a 

 metal cutting edge. This edge shaves off the irregulari- 

 ties. The advantage in having the leveller long is appar- 

 ent. It is used to smooth the surface and, like a smooth- 

 ing plane, is best when long. This implement will level 

 a strip eight feet wide each time across the field. When 

 it is carrying reasonable weight, four average horses will 

 handle it without inconvenience. Good levelling cannot 

 be too strongly emphasized. 



Many alfalfa growers have found it wise to put in the 

 ditches before the planting is done. The advantage in 

 this lies in the fact that plants may be kept from growing 

 in the ditches and interfering with the flow of the irriga- 

 tion water. The only precaution needed is to see that no 

 seed falls in the bottom of the ditches. 



The location and distance apart of the ditches must 

 be determined for each- particular field. After a little ex- 

 perience, a practical irrigator is able to locate the neces- 

 sary lateral ditches. For the -main head or supply ditches 



