IRRIGATION 69 



when it is desired to attach a piece of hose at the 

 opening for rilling the ditches within reach ; the 

 hose may then be detached, the plug replaced, and 

 the hose moved to the next opening. With a hose 

 50 feet long it will only be necessary to have the 

 openings every 100 feet along the line of pipe. 

 Valves will be found more desirable than plugs for 

 closing the openings, but their use adds consider- 

 ably to the expense of installation. A threaded 

 nipple should be inserted in one end of the hose 

 for attaching it to the pipe, and one and one-fourth- 

 inch hose will be found to be the most convenient 

 size for general use. 



The iron pipes are more desirable than the 

 wooden flumes, as they can be laid upon the ground 

 or on blocks and do not require leveling or grading, 

 the only requisite being that the source of supply 

 of the water be somewhat higher than the delivery 

 openings, or that the water be driven through the 

 pipes under pressure. In the autumn, after the irri- 

 gation work is finished, the pipes should be carefully 

 drained to prevent freezing, or be disconnected and 

 placed under shelter until the following season. 

 Galvanized pipes are preferable, or if black pipe 

 be employed it should be painted on the outside 

 with mineral paint or asphaltum varnish from time 

 to time to prevent rusting. 



Overhead Sprinkler Systems. One of the most 

 satisfactory methods of applying water to the sur- 

 face of the ^soil is the deluge sprinkler system. By 

 this method, lines of iron pipes are laid on the sur- 

 face of the soil 16 or 18 feet apart, with upright 



