162 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE 



covering is removed during the day, the plants will be softened, and when the 

 covering is finally taken off tlie danger of injury will be increased. 



While many attempt to delay the blooming of the varieties in order that the 

 danger of frosts might be lessened, by leaving on the winter covering late in the 

 spring, a few have gone even farther and have covered the plants with a thick 

 layer of ice, a covering of straw being placed over this to delay the melting of the 

 ice, and as a result the blooming, as well as the ripening period, will be somewhat 

 later. 



Where one has large areas and water for irrigating or sprinkling is not at hand, 

 a smudge of some kind may be used that will make a thick smoke. This will settle 

 over the beds and prevent the radiation of heat, and lessen the danger from frost. 

 Upon still nights, when the danger of frost is the greatest, the most marked results 

 can be secured. While various materials have been burned to produce the smudge, 

 the best i-esults have been obtained from piles of straw over which cOal tar has been 

 poured. While they should be closer together on small areas, the distance between 

 the piles need not be less than 75 or 100 feet for a field of a number of acres. If 

 the materials are prepared and distributed when frosts are to be expected, it will 

 be a simple matter to fire them about two o'clock in the morning. If at that time 

 a thermometer near the ground in the field shows a temperature of 37 degrees, or 

 less, and if the conditions seem to favor its dropping still lower, it will be advisable 

 to fire them. 



IRRIGATION. 



There are few locations where strawberries are not each year more or less in- 

 jured by lack of moisture in the soil, and where water can be readily secured for 

 irrigating purposes, the expenses of applying it will be well repaid. Oftentimes 

 a single application made when the fruit is about one-half grown will double the 

 yield, and occasionally a crop will be saved, which would otherwise be lost. Al- 

 though its use is of less value during the first season's growth, it will often be found 

 desirable when the weather is dry, to make an application in order to pi'omote the 

 growth of the plants. Some growers have received good returns where water 

 has been pumped by windmills, steam or gasoline engines, but few would care to 

 go to that expense. However, there are some locations where water can be taken 

 from a stream and turned upon the land, and there will be no question but what 

 irrigating can be made to pay. The Avater should be carried in furrows between the 

 rows, and applied in sufficient quantities to cover the surface to a depth of one inch, 

 which will require about eight hundred barrels per acre. It is in the home garden, 

 however, where irrigation can be used to the best advantage in Michigan; as the 

 water supply for the house or barn can generally be used for irrigating. If sufl3- 

 cient pressure can be secured, it will be best to make use of lawn sprinklers, which 

 can be moved over the beds so as to thoroughly wet down the soil. If the land 

 is thoroughly mulched a single watering will last for several days, and perhaps 

 will be all that will be required. If the needed pressure cannot be secured, and 

 particularly if the water supply is limited, it will be advisable to make use of sub- 

 irrigation. By placing a line of drain tile below the surface, a strip from ten to 

 twenty feet can be watered. If to be left permanently the line should at least be 

 below" the reach of the plow, and in case the land requires under-draining, the tile 

 may be so arranged as to answer for both purposes. The depth should then be not 

 less than 2% feet, and the tile should be laid as nearly level as possible, and yet 

 give a fall towards the outlet. When required for irrigating, the lowef end of the 

 tile can be closed and the drains flooded from the highest point. If merely needed 

 for the strawberry crop, a temporary system of tiles may be laid. If put in before 

 the plants are set, they should be covered at least four or fi^e inches to be below 

 the reach of the cultivator, but oftentimes the necQBsity is not recognized until 

 about the time the fruit is ripening, and then it will be sufficient if the tiles are 

 barely covered. Care should be taken to have the lines of tile practically level for 

 lengtlis of less than one hundred feet, and beyond this the slope should be very 

 slight. Where the tiles have a greater slope the water rushes to the lower end and 

 breaks through to the surface. When properly arranged the water should enter 

 the tile only as fast as it soaks through the joints. In this way the tiles will be 

 kept full and the water will be very equally distributed throughout the length of the 

 tile. While smaller or larger sizes might be used, a three-inch common drain tile 

 will give the best results. As most tiles are slightly curved in burning, by placing 

 them with their rounded sides uppermost, a small crack will be left on the under 



