242 STORRS AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. 
the water may be turned from its natural course and conveyed 
in ditches along the outer edge of the valley and then allowed 
to flow over the surface of the fields back of the natural stream. 
A number of instances have come to our notice where the light 
alluvial soil of our valleys might thus be watered at small 
expense. In many cases the water could be taken from an old 
mill site and would be found sufficiently high to use for irriga- 
tion after it leaves the water-wheel. The water from several 
springs may some times be conveyed toa single point and then 
held in a small pond and the water drawn from this as needed. 
Where only small areas are to be irrigated wells may be made 
a source of water supply. The well must afford a large flow 
and should be so located that the water can be stored at some 
' point at least twenty-five feet above the fields to be watered. 
In many cases bored wells might be utilized and afford a heavy 
flow of water. 
“PUMPING APPLIANCES. 
Rams.—In many places in Connecticut the source of supply 
is below the fields to be irrigated and the water can only be 
made available by some pumping device. ‘The cheapest sources 
of power are water and wind, although steam and electricity 
may be profitably used where the water is wanted only for a 
short period. A ram, under many conditions, is the best 
power. As only a small part of the water that is needed to 
operate the ram can be pumped, the supply must be quite 
large and the ram of heavy capacity. If the water is lifted 
over forty or fifty feet high the strain on the ram is quite 
severe and all the parts must be securely and strongly made. 
But few styles of rams manufactured in this country are pow- 
erful enough to supply water for anything but small areas 
(four to eight acres). 
Windmills.—If wind is the form of power to be used the 
mill should be constructed of the best material, and be strong 
and secure in all its parts. Cheap forms of mills should 
be avoided in all cases. ‘The best steel mills are the cheapest 
in the end. The mill should be located on high ground so it 
will “‘catch’’ the wind from all directions and so the place of 
storage may be sufficiently above the fields to be irrigated to 
give a good fall. The average velocity of the wind in New 
England is about twelve miles per hour. A 14-foot wheel will - 
