IRRIGATION 



133 



Fig. 75. Border method of irrigation. 



trees. A basin is provided around the tree, with a suitable 

 ridge to hold the water, which is then turned in until a suffi- 

 cient amount is applied. 



Border Method. The border method is also similar to 

 the check method in 

 that the land is di- 

 vided into long strips, 

 and the water is 

 turned into these 

 from a ditch at the 

 end or along the bor- 

 der. It is easy to 

 see that by arranging 



these long strips the work necessary in preparing ridges is 

 reduced. 



Furrow Method. The furrow method of applying irri- 

 gation water consists in turning the stream of water into 

 furrows between the rows of intertilled crops. It is more 

 generally employed than any other method, with the excep- 

 tion of flooding from field laterals. The distance between 

 furrows will depend upon the character of the soil. It is 

 customary to provide small openings or pipes in the ridge 



at the side of the 

 supply ditch by 

 which the water may 

 be turned into the 

 furrows. 



Subirrigation. 

 Upon first thought 

 it would seem that 

 subirrigation, or wa- 

 ter applied to crops from pipes laid beneath the surface, 

 would be an ideal system. This is not the case, as such a 



Fig. 76. Manner of placing tubes in ditch 

 bank for furrow irrigation. (Farmer's Bui. 373, 

 U. S. Dept. of Agr.) 



