Preparing land for irrigation and methods of applying water . e plowed inthe fall, in whichcase it will be insplendid tilth forsowing, or it maybe plowed in thespring as soon asthe frost is out ofthe ground. The grain is drilled in at any time from the latter partof March to the last weeks in April, depending upon the locality andthe w^eather conditions. After sowing time the farmers next duty is the preparation of hisland for the first irrigation. The tract of land is, as a rule, supplied bya main lateral or ditch, which is located along the highest side. If thetract be large, this main ditch
Preparing land for irrigation and methods of applying water . e plowed inthe fall, in whichcase it will be insplendid tilth forsowing, or it maybe plowed in thespring as soon asthe frost is out ofthe ground. The grain is drilled in at any time from the latter partof March to the last weeks in April, depending upon the locality andthe w^eather conditions. After sowing time the farmers next duty is the preparation of hisland for the first irrigation. The tract of land is, as a rule, supplied bya main lateral or ditch, which is located along the highest side. If thetract be large, this main ditch is supplemented by others paralleling itat intervals of 15 rods or more, which cut the field in strips, each havinga suppty lateral along its upper side, which, in addition to supplyingthe tract below it, serves to catch the surplus from the strip next above. The planted area is then gone over with what is called a umarker(fig. 32). It consists usually of an 8-inch log 8 or 10 feet long, towhich is attached a tongue and doubletrees. Wooden blades or teeth,. Fig. 32.—Homemade marker for furrow irrigation. 71 2 or 3 inches wide and from 12 to 16 inches long, are inserted in thelog, and the whole forms a comb-like implement, which when drawnover a field makes furrows 2 or 3 inches deep. The usual spacing ofthe teeth in the log is from 18 to 24 inches. Many prefer to mark the fields immediately after the sowing, whileothers wait until the grain is up. The direction in which the furrowsare run depends on the slope. After a field has been marked thewater is admitted into the laterals, and at intervals of 2 or 3 rods isturned from the laterals onto the fields by temporary earthen dams orthe more effective canvas dams, cuts being made in the banks of thelaterals. The water, after it leaves the lateral, is directed into thesmall channels made by the marker and flows rapidly over the , the water is not entirely confined to the furrows, but isallowed to overflow. They si
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