52 
FLORIDA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
We use live oak posts eight feet long* 
which place our lateral lines six feet 
overhead. The main can be overhead or 
laid underground with i 1-2 or 2-inch 
uprights to connect with laterals. It is 
possible to use the same lateral lines on 
both sides of the main by having the miain 
running through the center of the field. 
One of my neighbors has done this; it only 
taking himself and one man two days to 
move and set up two acres, thereby ir¬ 
rigating four acres with little more ex¬ 
pense than two. We use centrifugal 
pumps, as they give a steady pressure, but 
I know that others give good satisfaction. 
We find it best to water late in the aft¬ 
ernoon and at night, the water has time to 
soak in and there is no danger of scalding. 
It is thought that lake or pond water is 
preferable to well water, but I have not 
found this to be the case, there being no 
difference only with well water there is 
not the danger of the nozzles being 
stopped up by vegetable matter, etc. 
The cost per acre for pipe, posts, noz¬ 
zles, etc., is about $75; to this must be 
added cost of engine, water supply and 
main, which is governed by the number of 
acres. The larger the plant the less the 
cost per acre. 
By W. F. Holmes. 
Mr. President t Ladies and Gentlemen: 
The subject of irrigation in Florida 
presents a most interesting study. The 
different varieties of soil, the location and 
the source of supply form, the principal 
parts of this study. I shall only be able 
to touch upon this subject from an expe¬ 
rience with the flowing wells and a sys¬ 
tem that while in use in some districts, 
does not employ the same means of con¬ 
struction. Practical and (cheap has it 
proven to be. The expense of irrigation 
with any system, is no small matter and we 
are all interested in learning* of a cheaper 
way. 
A comparatively small area in Florida 
furnishes flowing wells. 
Quoting from Bulletin No. 1 of the 
Florida Geological Survey: 
There are two principal artesian areas : 
the East Coast area and the Southern 
Gulf Coast area. Flowing wells on the 
East Coast have been obtained as far 
south as Palm Beach, although the water 
in the well at this last locality was too salty 
for use. Flowing wells at or near the sea 
level have been obtained along the Pin¬ 
ellas Peninsula. 
The conditions which exist in central 
Florida are not favorable for obtaining 
flowing wells. The crest of the anticline 
lies not far from the center of the penin¬ 
sula. The dip from the crest is most rap¬ 
id to the east. Under these conditions 
pressure sufficient to cause a flow along 
the side of the anticline would result from 
the presence of an overlying relatively im¬ 
pervious stratum acting as a confining 
agent and preventing the escape of the 
water. 
The springs of Florida are famous for 
their volume of flow as well as for the 
clearness and beauty of their water and 
the beautiful scenery about them,. Many 
of these springs are used as health re- 
