No. 129.] 195 



of irrigation it was necessary to employ other water than that of 

 riverSj lakes or even-springs. 



These gentlemen tried pure water, as obtained by distillation 

 and as a supporter of vegetation, but it was found totally inade- 

 quate, plants merely v-egetated for a time, but could not be made 

 to mature and perfect their seeds. Facts like this strongly con- 

 firm the conclusions of some of the most sagacious cultivators that 

 the chief advantages of irrigation are owing to the foreign sub- 

 stances with which water is charged. The United States, or by 

 far the greater part of them, situated in a considerably higher 

 latitude than a greater part of Europe has a more powerful sun 

 the greater part of the year, therefore it exhales moisture more 

 rapidly from its soil. This, with otlier causes, subjects portions 

 of our countiy to severe droughts in sections where these pre- 

 vail, and some years they are extensive, no rains to be of service 

 often for many weeks ; plants suffer greatly for the want of mois- 

 ture, their yield is diminished at le<ast one quarter and sometimes 

 one third by it on an average. If irrigation should be used among 

 us at such a time it would mitigate the evil much ; natural un- 

 failing streams could in many places be led or conveyed on to 

 lands and caused to flow over them gently at comparatively 

 «mall expense. This would carry not only moisture, but nour- 

 ishment to plants on such lands, and would probably be the 

 means of their producing nearly or quite an average crop in the 

 dryest season. The cost of the operation would, no doubt, be an 

 objection with most of our farmers, as this in some cases is greater 

 than drainage, but in most cases considerably less, aud it is only 

 a few places comparatively where the streams would offer facili- 

 ties for flooding without some labor and expense. Our western 

 and southern states possess these advantages of natural irrigation 

 in a high degree; there large and small streams at certain sea- 

 sons flood their lands without any aid from man ; these periodical 

 floodings deposite their rich sediment on their land and form 

 what is called their alluvial soil, so highly valued as we have ob- 

 served for its durable richness. In dry seasons no doubt vegeta- 

 tion suff^ers here as elsewhere, and unless they possess facilities 

 for directing these streams on to their lands and submit to the la- 

 bor and cost of it, they must sustain damage therefrom. These 

 soils in possessing all the ingredients, organic and inorganic 



