IRRIGATION IN FLORIDA. 
29 
a turning union. Thus when the pipe is turned to any one position 
every nozzle in it will assume the same angle with the horizontal. It 
is possible to turn, from one end, a pipe 700 feet long bearing 200 
nozzles. The pipe lines usually are placed 50 feet apart, so that the 
nozzles in each line will throw water 25 feet on each side of the pipe. 
Each of these overhead-pipe lines is attached to the main supply 
pipe, the latter, in turn, being connected with a pumping outfit. 
Several patented appliances are used in this system, two of the 
most important being the nozzles and the turning unions. The 
nozzles are small, J to J inch in length, with an outside diameter 
seldom larger than a lead pencil. The aperture for letting out the 
water usually is about the size of an ordinary pin. Each nozzle con- 
tains an outside thread which enables it to be screwed into a drilled 
and threaded hole in the pipe. The water is forced through this 
miniature nozzle at a pressure of 30 to 40 pounds per square inch, 
throwing a stream of water 25 feet from the pipe if the angle of the 
nozzle with the horizontal is approximately 45 degrees. When sev- 
eral hundred feet of pipe bearing a number of nozzles are in use and 
each nozzle is throwing water 25 feet from the pipe a continuous 
strip of land will be watered. When it is desired to water another 
strip, the pipe is turned. It usually is necessary to turn the pipe 
through six or seven positions in order to water the 50-foot strip 
covered by one line. As a rule, this pipe is turned by hand, although 
there are several appliances on the market which turn the lines 
automatically. 
The design of the pipe lines is an important item. The lateral 
pipe lines bearing the nozzles are of constant size for a given length. 
Tables have been prepared by dealers in irrigation supplies which 
give the sizes of pipe necessary for different lengths. In general, it 
is customary to begin at the lower end with f-inch pipe; run this 
for about 100 feet, then increase to 1-inch pipe, run this for another 
100 to 150 feet, and so on until 2 -inch pipe is reached. 
Table 1. — Sizes of pipe for outdoor nozzle lines. 
[Calculated on outdoor nozzles placed 4 feet apart. If the nozzles are closer together larger pipe must he 
used.] 
Nozzle No. 
Length 
of line. 
f-inch 
pipe. 
1-inch 
pipe. 
lHnch 
pipe. 
lHnch 
pipe. 
2-inch 
pipe. 
No. 2 outdoor, 4 feet apart, or No. 1, 3 feet apart 
Feet. 
150 
200 
250 
300 
400 
500 
600 
Feet. 
115 
100 
90 
90 
80 
75 
75 
Feet. 
35 
100 
100 
100 
100 
100 
100 
Feet. 
Feet. 
Feet. 
60 
110 
120 
120 
120 
100 
120 
120 
85 
185 
