Ieeigation. 41 



fonnly, at a cost of one hour of labor in addition to fuel 

 cost. The writer now has twenty-nine acres of this sys- 

 tem in operation, and has been putting in more of it each 

 year. On each plot that has been installed, the first crop 

 has paid more than twice the cost of the entire plant, in- 

 cluding pipe, nozzles, fittings, installed complete, well, 

 pump, engine, and piping for $'200.00 per acre. When 

 no well has to be dug this cost can be reduced. Its ad- 

 vantages are first, economy of construction, from the fact 

 that a small quantity of water is carried through the noz- 

 zles, and in consequence small pipe can be used; second, 

 the light mist-like spray falls like a light rain, and does 

 not pack the ground, making it unnecessary to cultivate 

 after each watering. Third, uniformity of distribution 

 of water. No other system of spray approaches it in this 

 respect. Fourth, the protection against frost, aft'orded by 

 wetting the ground just before frost, causing the closing 

 of the soil pores, and the cessation of variation which pro- 

 duces frost. Fifth, economy of application of water. The 

 gardener can with this system apply the water while he 

 sits down after supper and reads his daily paper. (A visit 

 to his engine about once per hour is all that is necessary.) 

 Sixth, spraying for insects or disease can be done most 

 economically and effectually by this method, and would 

 require only twenty minutes to spray a twenty-acre field. 

 In saying what I have about this system, I do not wish 

 to be understood in all cases as placing it above the excel- 

 lent system of sub-irrigation already mentioned. This is 

 the system to be preferred in a low soil, and where cheap 

 artesian wells can be had, and is being used with excellent 

 results in many localities. 



