IRRIGATION IN FLORIDA. 47 



It is possible that the irrigation of the Everglades will become a 

 problem that can best be handled by cooperative methods. At pres- 

 ent too much drainage work remains to be completed to permit the 

 formation of any decided opinion as to the best methods to be fol- 

 lowed. The 280 miles of drainage canals now open represent only 

 part of the main ditches which must be constructed. Many miles of 

 lateral farm ditches for drainage also must be constructed before the 

 entire area can be considered as offering any possibilities as an irri- 

 gated section. 



At present the region offers no problem that has not been discussed 

 above. There are a few acres of overhead-spray systems along some 

 of the main canals and some land has been irrigated successfully by 

 the furrow system, water being pumped from the drainage canals. 

 It is quite certain that pumps will be the main source of irrigation 

 for some time. The future alone will determine the feasibility of 

 raising the water surface by structures placed in the drainage canals, 

 thus reversing the purpose of the farm laterals so as to use them to 

 supply water to the farm instead of draining off the water. The 

 Everglades are not drained, as a whole, at present, although there are 

 a number of individual drainage projects within the main drainage 

 system which make possible the cultivation of limited areas. 



What appears to be most needed to encourage the construction and 

 operation of irrigation plants in Florida is a knowledge of cheaper 

 installation for the higher and sandier groves, with cheap and effi- 

 cient methods of distribution. Such methods are needed in many of 

 the truck gardens and in many of the groves that lie on the lower 

 elevations. 



EXPERIMENTS TO DETERMINE METHODS FOR ECONOMICAL 



IRRIGATION. 



The Office of Public Roads and Rural Engineering experimented 

 with construction for irrigation by furrow or surface methods, and 

 to determine the distribution of water in the soil when such methods 

 are used. The results derived from these tests have been quite uni- 

 form and point toward greatly improved irrigation systems for the 

 future. 



SOIL-MOISTURE TESTS MADE IN CONNECTION WITH IRRIGATION. 



The tests in soil-moisture content were made to determine the best 

 heads of water to use for furrow irrigation and the length of time 

 that should be allowed for irrigation. With these points determined, 

 the best methods for applying water could be found. The tests were 

 made at several points near Orlando, some being in connection with 

 the use of the portable plant mentioned on page 38 and others with 

 larger heads from large-capacity pumping plants. Experiments were 

 made with several types of soil, but as the closer types offer no par- 



