Irrigation 
T. F. Holbrook. 
Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen : 
* 
Irrigation is not a new subject, but 
one that is commanding the attention 
of all intelligent farmers and gardeners 
everywhere. In the western part of 
our country can be found irrigation 
systems that existed before that sec¬ 
tion was settled by its present popula¬ 
tion. These systems are now decayed 
and almost destroyed. 
Growers throughout the entire coun¬ 
try are realizing that with competition 
so fierce, they must make the most of 
their products in order to secure the 
best results. Even here, in Florida, 
where the rainfall seems abundant, it 
is the best investment a farmer can 
make, and every farmer or trucker who 
has considered this question seriously 
is putting in irrigation. The Florida 
farmer who has not prepared to irri¬ 
gate, does not see the value of it, until 
he has a fine crop of vegetables die 
from want of water, then, too late, he 
realizes he could have more than paid 
for an irrigating plant with this one 
crop. 
It is only when crops are scarce that 
growers realize high prices. The dry 
weather we so often have is one cause 
of vegetables being scarce and high. 
If you have your land irrigated, you 
are protected from drouth; if not, you 
are the loser. 
Quality is also of great importance in 
the way of prices. Sufficient water, 
when needed and properly applied, in 
many instances more than doubles the 
yield, and not only guarantees vege¬ 
tables and fruit of first-class quality, 
but frequently hastens the crop to ma¬ 
turity several weeks, and as a result, 
the crop brings a much better price. 
We can readily see that it is best to 
irrigate as we are more sure of a crop, 
get a larger yield and better quality of 
fruit or vegetables, and obtain better 
prices. 
We have three systems of irrigation 
in use in Florida. The first is surface 
irrigation, or running the water along 
the rows or in ditches. The second is 
sub-irrigation, or carrying the water 
underneath the ground in porous tile. 
The third, spraying the water over the 
plants and surface. 
While any of these three systems are 
preferred to no irrigation, we recom¬ 
mend the first only to parties who are 
not able to install a better system. This 
method is used in some parts of Flor¬ 
ida with fairly good results. When 
using this method, one gets the best re¬ 
sults by turning the water into the 
ditches, or trenches, every five or six 
days, and within two or three days 
