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Cromwell Argus, Volume IV, Issue 164, 31 December 1872, Page 3

Six Rules in Irrigation.—Mr W. S. Powell, Tulare Co., Cal., says:—" Having large practical experience in irrigation and constructing cun:ils, I purpose giving some conclusions, drawn from 16 years' observation of the rt suits of artificial moistening : —l. Construct, your main ditch from the source of water supply to the land to be irrigated, sufficiently large to curry all the water you v ant, giving it a grade of not less than eighteen inches, nor more than s : x feet to the mile, depending upon die siz..' of the ditch and the soil through wliicli it runs. 2. C ns'ruct your lateral ditches so as to command the highest part of your land, for it is a maxim in this business I that if you thoroughly irrigate the high I places, the low ones will take care of themselves. 3. When you irrigate, do it tho roughly ; wet the ground at least eighteen inches deep. 4. After irrigating, always (except it be grass or grain land) stir the surface .soil as soon as its condition will permit. This is imperative if you wish to enjoy the full benefit of irrigation and enrich J your ground every time you water it. 5. j Don't irrigate too much ; a thorough wet ting every three weeks, where there is no 'rainfall, is amply sufficient. Too much j irrigation causes a spindling, unhealthy i grow th. 0. For gardens, small fruits, <fcc, irrigate under the surface by means of j covered tiles or boxes, and you will see s> | growth on poor (-oil that will far surpass the growth of the richest laud unirrigated. 1 have been experimenting the last five years on this peculiar s\stem of irrigation for gardens and small fruits, and know it to be a thorough success. Any persor having a small bit of land and the com mand of a little water, can have a certainty of a crop, and bid defiance to the seasons.'