Irrigation system lateral pickup pipe strainer

In combination with an irrigation system including a horizontal main supply line and a lateral line including an upstanding inlet end branching upwardly and outwardly of an upper wall portion of said main supply line and defining a downwardly facing end face at said inlet end, a strainer including an upstanding tubular body defining a lower inlet end portion and an upper outlet end portion as well as a diametrically enlarged circumferential shoulder centrally intermediate said upper and lower end portions, said upper end portion, throughout the length thereof, being appreciably smaller in diameter than said shoulder and including tandem circumferentially extending and radially outwardly projecting seal means thereon, said lower end portion including a plurality of circumferentially spaced inlet slots formed therein with each of said slots tapering in width toward the interior of said lower inlet end portion, said outlet end portion being telescoped upwardly into the interior of said lateral line inlet end with said seal means forming a substantially fluid tight seal between the interior of said lateral line inlet end and said upper end portion of said tubular body and said shoulder at least closely opposing said end face to define a limit stop for upward telescoping of said outlet end portion into said inlet end.