Page:Indian Journal of Economics Volume 2.djvu/539

 - ECONOMY OF IRRIGATION WATER 521 increase ho area irrigated from one ouflo by charging a fixed annual sum per oule instead of as a presen on he area actually irrigated. The objec of irrigation is o ge moisture o he roos of he plans. The-presen mehod of doing his, i.,., by flooding he surface of he soil is perhaps charging raher a clumsy and wasteful expedient; because, (a) i cakes he surface soil, destroys he mulch, and promotes he loss of. he subsoil moisture by capillary action and evaporation; (b) here is a direc loss of. waer by evaporation during he process of irrigation; he roos are kep near he surface; (d) aeration o! he subsoil and he activity of he nitrogen fixing bacteria are lessened. possible that by passing the by a number of hese moisture parallel disadvantages directly porous I is obviated subsoil could be ino he earthenware surface and saving o! pipes sunk abou 18 inches below he 8 fee apart, and ha a very considerable irrigation waer would her. eby result.