Irrigation Experience 



179 



The south plat is one-half acre in extent. Eight to ten hours 

 pumping was necessary to thoroughly wet the ground. The 

 pump has a capacity of 55 gallons per minute, at 100 revolutions. 

 The water was delivered through a 2X-inch pipe, under pres- 

 sure. Only those who have had experience can realize what an 

 immense quantity of water is necessary to soak even one-half an 

 acre. 



"Not only is it necessary to have an adequate water supply, 

 but it must be rapidly delivered, both for economy of labor and 

 in order to do the work well. Attempts have been made to water 

 garden plats by using a garden hose, allowing the water to 

 spread over the ground. As a result, the ground becomes soaked 

 and mortar-like to a depth of two or three feet for a short 

 distance from the end next the water supply and the water does 

 not move forward. In case the rows were of any considerable 

 length, it would require several days for the water to reach the 

 farther end. If water were delivered at the rate of 75 or 100 

 gallons per minute, a much larger area could be wet to a depth 

 of several inches in a few hours. The slope of the ground is a 

 matter to be considered before irrigation work is taken up. It 

 probably would not be possible to irrigate a very steep hillside 

 by this method, although by planting with reference to watering, 

 fields with considerable slope may be irrigated. 



"If a field slopes from north to south, with a slight incline to 

 east or west, plant east and west and run the water across. The 

 question is often asked : ^How can I irrigate a perfectly level 

 field ? ' Such fields are very rare. Although a field may appear 

 perfectly flat, if water were turned on it would generally be found 

 that slope enough existed to carry the water across the field. 

 Thorough preparation of the ground is necessary before the 

 crops are planted. It is necessary to make the surface as nearly 

 level as possible. It is the small dips, ravines, ^dead' furrows 

 and hollows that need looking after. Shave off the surface of 

 adjoining elevations to fill these, so that when the water is turned 

 on, it will have a fair chance to do its work. 



"The season of 1895 was one of the driest in the history of 

 Wisconsin, From May 1 to October 1 the rainfall at Madison 



