WINTER MEETINa. 227 



be suspended, as must occur for a greater or less period following sur- 

 face flooding, (dj 'Tillage would be easier and uninterrupted, fej 

 And last, but not least, the same thing used for irrigation would afford 

 drainage when needed. In green-house management it is a common 

 practice. In fruit and vegetable garden culture it is practiced to a 

 limited extent. At Milan, Sullivan county, Daniel Custer has a plant 

 upon which he has experimented with some success. His water sup- 

 ply, however, this year was not adequate. He has full faith in the 

 method, and will perfect his appliances and extend the plant the com- 

 ing season. Many others will doubtless try the plan in a limited way. 

 I have no doubt that in berry culture it will in a few years prove a 

 valuable method. 



It so often happens that after all the vicissitudes of winter-killing 

 and spring frosts have been passed in safety, and a crop of berries is 

 nearly ready for the grower to reach out and pluck them, the drouth 

 blights all his fair prospects. This is in a measure true of many other 

 garden products. There is scarcely a farm in the State but that at 

 .some suitable place on it a pond, reservoir, spring or well could be 

 had at a small cost, for the irrigation of at least a garden and small 

 fruit patch. It is confidently believed that trees and shrubs kept 

 growing, unchecked by drouth, so that they would fully mature and 

 ripen their wood and fruit-buds, would go into winter so matured as 

 to withstand the freezing more perfectly. It is a common experience 

 for fruit trees, especially the peach, to receive a check of growth in 

 August; then, when the fall rains set in, to make an abnormal growth, 

 or if not a growth, a swelling of the buds. Trees in this condition are 

 more easily killed. Now, by a continuous supply of moisture during 

 all the summer, the growth would be uniform to completion, and the 

 buds supplied with such glutinous and waxy matters as are needful for 

 winter protection ; besides, any late rains that might occur would not 

 have the effect of abnormally swelling the buds, which means an undue 

 accumulation of water in the buds with unassimilated matter ; hence 

 we say the bads are made tender. 



DISCUSSION. 



J. M. Neff, of Bolton, Harrison county, Missouri, showed a plat of 

 his garden of one and a half acres, which is so ditched as to be sub- 

 irrigated in dry times. He has in this garden 300 rods of ditching; the 

 total cost, allowing full wages for his own time, has been $108. He 

 claims to produce $600 worth of fruits and vegetables. Among other 

 things, he claimed to have gathered 400 pounds of grapes from one 

 seven-j ear-old grape-vine ; 800 pounds of watermelons from one hill of 



