74 



flood 10 acres of rice and a 6-iuch pipe will flood 80 to 90 acres. A.ny 

 number of wells may be made, and even if no more than 20 or 30 feet 

 apart one does not diminish the amount of water obtaiued from the 

 other. It is [)robable that such wells will become common for the irri- 

 gation of other crops than rice. 



Hon. S. L. Gary says : 



Wells from 2 to 12 inches can be put down buccessf ally. From 50 to 100 

 such wells are in successful operation in the rice belt of southwestern Louisiana 

 Passing through alternate layers of clay and quicksand, coarse water-bearing 

 gravel i^ reached at the depth of 100 to 150 feet. Forty feet of screened pipe 

 reaching into this gravel is sutiicient. A 6-inch well will furnish 

 a constant stream for a 4 to 5 inch pump. A system of such 

 wells may be put do-, a 10 to 40 feet apart and each one will act 

 independently and furnish as much water as if stood alone. Such a 

 corabinatioa of wells may be unitee just below water level and all be run by 

 one engme and pump. Water rises materially in these wells to within 20 feet 

 of the surface, and a number of ploughing wells have been secured. The 

 lift is not greater than from rivers, lakes, or bayons into canals. Eight 4-inch 

 wells united at the top can be run by one 16-inch pump and a 50-horsepower 

 engine, and will flood 1,000 acres of rice. With present conditions there are 

 profits to the grower. Water is the largest factor in rice production, and we 

 are prepared to take the advice of the millionaire, Sell water." 



The total cost of an irrigating plant sufficient for flooding 200 acres 

 is from 1 1,500 to $2,500. It requires about seventy days' pumping for 

 the rice season. 



DRAINAGE. 



Danger from alkali. — Thorough drainage is even more essential for 

 rice than for wheat, because irrigation brings the alkali to the service 

 to an extent that finally becomes detrimental to the rice plant. Alkali 

 sometimes accumulates in the soil just below the depth of the usual 

 furrow to such an extent that any ploughing is dangerous to the crop. 

 Experience has shown that there is but one eflective way of disposing 

 of these salts, and that is by thorough drainage and deep ploughing As 

 the water drains away the excess of soluble salts is carried off. Now, if 

 the ditches are no deeper than the ordinary furrow it is evident that 

 only the suriace of the soil can be declared. Until tilling can be em- 

 ployed the use of plenty open ditch<^.'s, at least 3 feet deep for mains, 

 must be the relief relience of the rice farmer in his fight against the 

 accumulation of alkali in the surface sail. 



Ditches. — The construction of leaves for drainage ditches is a simple 

 process as compared with the old system of using spade and shovel. 

 A plough with an extension moldbord, or winged scraper about 5 feet 

 long, is generally used. Some use a plough follow by a V scraper made 

 of plank, which removes the dirt from the furrow 4 or 5 feet to the 

 right or to the left as the case may be. thus forming a ridge or levee. 

 The broader ditch thus made is less liable to be choaked with grasses 

 than ditches made with a spade or capstand ditching plough. Usually 

 not more than 1 foot of drainage is obtained with such implements. 

 This is ample for removing surface water, but does not give sufficient 

 depth for thorugh drainage to put the field in the best condition for cul- 

 tivation in the early spring. 



