114 



IRRIGATION ROUND TABLE 



you can get satisfactory distribution. If the drainage is deep and 

 perfect, sub-irrigation seems hardly practicable. 



Question: Has anyone had experience with sub-irrigation in 

 heavier soils .^^ I have been considering irrigating a rather heavy 

 loam with a clay subsoil. 



Mr. Work: I am wondering if it would not be better than to 

 use a surface system. Might that not give you a method of apply- 

 ing water without hurting the physical condition of the soil.^^ 



A Member: I don't know how far apart the laterals would 

 have to be. 



Mr. Work: If you have a pretty substantial subsoil, I should 

 think the thing would work, and it would certainly be wortli trying. 

 You will want to know how deep to put the tile, and how far apart, 

 and there will be all the questions about how much water to use and 

 how often. At present, we lack the data necessary for conclusive 

 answers to these questions. 



Mr. Bonney: It isn't as difficult a matter as with the overhead 

 irrigation. You can tell by the growth of the plant whether it is 

 getting too much. 



Mr. Work: I think the system in Sanford, Florida, involves 

 openings at both ends, does it not, Mr. Locke .^^ 



Mr. Locke: Yes. 



Mr. Priest: I have conditions that are very similar to Mr. 

 Bonney's, as regards location. I have a gravity system of bringing 

 water on to my muck, and with the exception of the spring season, 

 I have sufficient outlet to carry off the water. The great difficulty 

 is that the creek is four and one-half feet below the ditches in the 

 muck. But the creek rises to such a degree we are apt to flood in 

 the early spring, and I have thought seriously of opening ditches this 

 year, and placing tile gradually. I have been trying to get informa- 

 tion as to a machine method of opening these ditches. Is there 

 someone present who could give me some information as to experience 

 with a ditching machine on muck.? 



President White: We know nothing that would do for tile 

 drains. The Buckeye machine and the St. Paul machine are both 

 machines constructed for large work. The St. Paul lays the tile as it 

 goes along. There is a sort of run that follows the machine, and the 



