IRRIGATION 
77 
the outlay.” Again, he says in the same connection 
(ibid., p. 27): “It has oftentimes occurred that such a 
watering, once or oftener applied, has saved a crop that, 
without it, would have been a complete failure. For my 
part, I would as soon think of being without a steam 
pump as the farmer who cuts hay would of being without 
a mowing machine. There is very seldom a season so 
wet that the steam pump will not be required 2 or 3 
weeks, and in most seasons it will be in use 8 to 10 
weeks. When the weather is very dry, and all the crops 
need abundant watering, the pump should be kept run- 
ning night and day, by employing two sets of men. 
. . . I would rather have a piece of 10 acres well 
fitted up for irrigation than one of 20 without irrigation; 
and I venture the assertion that I could raise more vege- 
tables or receive more money for my crops, in a period 
of 10 years from the 10 acres irrigated than from the 20 
acres nonirrigated.” Mr. Rawson once sold $3,500 worth 
of cauliflower from 6 acres of irrigated land, and he be- 
lieved that not over $1,000 would have been realized 
without irrigation. The prospective irrigator should 
bear in mind that prices average higher in seasons of 
drouth. 
1 19. The furrow method of irrigation is in most gen- 
eral use in the vegetable-growing section of the West 
and has been used to some extent in the East. The main 
argument in its favor is that with suitable contour of the 
land very little expense is involved in the making of 
ditches or furrows. On the other hand, the system has 
several disadvantages: (1) Considerable attention is re- 
quired to operate this system. (2) It is not easily used 
on land of uneven contour. (3) It is not successful on 
very open, porous soils nor upon impervious soils. (4) 
It fails to secure an even distribution of water. (5) It 
may cause serious baking of the areas occupied by fur- 
rows 
