IRRIGATION IN FLORIDA. 19 



Manatee district probably averages 500 feet. Some of the wells in 

 the Fort Myers and Manatee districts have a very heavy flow, regis- 

 tering as much as 20 pounds pressure when capped. One 6-inch well 

 near Palatka, now used for irrigation, flows more than 1,000 gallons 

 per minute at the well, and will force water to the second story of the 

 house, which stands on an elevation some 10 or 15 feet above the well. 



As the elevation of the ground surface increases the flowing ar- 

 tesian wells disappear. Much of the central portion of the State is 

 in this higher area. The wells in the non-flowing artesian belt 

 usually appear to be inexhaustible from a pumping standpoint. 

 Many of the bored wells above the flowing artesian belt are used as 

 drainage wells. These will take great quantities of water without 

 materially affecting their own water levels. This fact is explained 

 by geologists as due to the porous nature of the water-bearing lime- 

 stone strata underlying the entire State. 



Much water for irrigation is derived from driven wells, which 

 usually draw on the surface supply. There are not many open dug 

 wells, as the sandy character of the soil makes an open well difficult 

 to manage. A few open wells in the Miami section, however, are dug 

 in the limestone formation, and these supply water to a number of 

 irrigation plants, some yielding large amounts of water. 



DESCRIPTION OF IRRIGATION SYSTEMS IN USE IN FLORIDA. 



The important types of irrigation practiced in Florida are: (1) 

 subirrigation, (2) overhead spray, (3) grove irrigation, which in- 

 cludes many different systems, and (4) furrow irrigation, applicable 

 both to truck crops and to citrus groves. 



SYSTEMS FOR THE IRRIGATION OF TRUCK CROPS. 



Sanford is located on Lake Monroe, in the central part of the 

 peninsula, about 28 miles west of the Atlantic Ocean. The lake is 

 formed by the widening out of St. Johns River, which is used for 

 transportation purposes, and handles considerable freight between 

 Sanford and Jacksonville. It will not accommodate the large ocean 

 steamers, but will float good-sized river steamers. There also is 

 direct railroad connection with the northern markets. 



Practically all of the cultivated area in the Sanford district is 

 devoted to the growing of winter vegetable crops for use in the 

 northern markets. It also grows summer fodder crops for home use. 



The soil, for the most part, is of the flatwoods type, although there 

 is some low hammock in certain localities. Much of the land away 

 from the river is practically level, although the general trend of the 

 grades is toward the river. A considerable area adjacent to the river, 

 however, has heavy grades, some of the lands falling several feet to 



