25 



NTJHSERY STOCK. 



Tlie uursery stock irrigated during the season of 1903 consisted of 

 2-3-ear-old apple trees of many varieties, and seedling peach, cherry, 

 and pluin trees grown as stocks for budding. 



Water was applied from August 7 to 11. With a single-shovel plow 

 furrows were made around each row as near the trees, as possible. 

 The irrigated plat was laid off in the middle part of the nursery and 

 represented average conditions in every respect. The water was con- 

 ducted to the plat through pipes and discharged into a cross ditch at 

 the upper ends of the rows. From the cross ditch the water was 

 emptied into the various furrows uniforml}^ so that all were equally 

 watered and none overflowed. No water was wasted. The soil was 

 saturated. 



The total quantity of water used on the one-tenth of an acre irri- 

 gated was 12,100 gallons, equivalent to a depth of 4.07 inches. 



Rains came shortly after the irrigating was done, and apparently 

 minimized its results. There is perhaps a slight tendency on the part 

 of the trees irrigated to continue their growth later in the season, thus 

 showing that they have been influenced to at least a slight extent. 

 November 2 the irrigated trees were not appreciably larger than those 

 not irrigated; but as the irrigated ones seem disposed to continue 

 their growth, thej' may yet outstrip the unirrigated. Nurser}- trees 

 here may continue to grow until December if they have suflicient 

 moisture. 



ONIONS. 



Four varieties of onions were experimented with. The soil was a 

 deep, unusually fertile clay loam. The -seed was planted May 7 in 

 drills 10 inches apart. The young plants received careful cultivation 

 all during the season. The month of July was the driest and warmest 

 of the season. The land sloped gently toward the south. Shallow 

 irrigating ditches, about 3 inches deep, were made by using the corner 

 of a common garden hoe. There was one furrow down the middle of 

 each space between the rows, making them 16 inches apart. At the 

 upper ends of the rows was a cross ditch, and from this water was fed 

 out uniforml}^ to several furrows at a time. The block to be irrigated 

 was laid off near the middle of the garden, part of the onion planting 

 being left unirrigated for purposes of comparison. The water was 

 conducted over the unirrigated plat through pipes and hose, so that 

 there was no opportunity for seepage into the wrong plat. 



The irrigating was begun Jul}'' 27, the water being allowed to flow 

 until the soil was well saturated. A total of 2,500 gallons was applied, 

 amounting to a depth of 6 inches over the area irrigated — about one- 

 sixty-fourth of an acre. When the water had settled the soil was 

 stirred to i^revent baking. 



The crop was harvested the first of September, and a careful 



