226 STORRS AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. 
might also be utilized for furnishing power for cutting feed and 
sawing wood, and a conveniently located pond for getting ice 
in winter for the dairy and household, is a need felt by nearly 
all farmers. 
IRRIGATION PLANTS IN USE IN CONNECTICUT. 
There are several irrigation plants in active operation in this 
State at the present time, located in the towns of Simsbury, 
North Haven, Meriden, Glastonbury, Hamden, Thomaston, 
and South Manchester. These are the only ones known to the 
writer that are operated upon a commercial basis. 
IRRIGATION ON THE FARM OF A. J. COE, MERIDEN. 
Irrigation was commenced on Mr. Coe’s farm by his father 
about the year 1840, the water being used for the next twenty 
years mainly upon the grass crop, although corn, potatoes, and 
other crops were irrigated whenever the rainfall was deficient. 
In 1863 Mr. Coe began to use the water on strawberries and 
raspberries, and has used it every year since whenever drouths 
seemed to make its use necessary. In 1895 he was using it on 
the two crops just mentioned, and upon tomatoes, asparagus, 
and cabbage. 
The source of the water is a small stream, that, during sea- 
sons of average rainfall, would just about flow through a 
6-inch pipe without pressure. The water is stored in two 
large ponds. The upper one is used mainly for getting ice 
for very large icehouses, and to supply power for cutting feed 
and wood. ‘The smaller pond, a little lower down the stream, 
is so located that the water can be conducted through a ditch 
for a distance of about forty rods and then distributed over the 
field in small ditches. The amount of water is sufficient to 
thoroughly irrigate fifteen acres planted with a variety of crops, 
if none of them require very large quantities of water during 
short periods of time. 
Mr. Coe has not been able to accurately estimate the profits — 
obtained from irrigation, as the crops grown are used very largely 
for home consumption. Those sold go to local markets, which 
are often overstocked, and prices do not average as high as in 
some other cities. Mr. Coe, however, seemed thoroughly con- 
vinced that great profits may be obtained from irrigation where 
the expense for getting the water on to the land is not too great. 
