26 



lecord kept of the yields under different conditions. There were 

 equal areas in the irrigated and unirrigated plats. Each variety on 

 being harvested was weighed, so as to show the total yield both under 

 irrigation and where not irrigated, and then the product was divided 

 into three grades, where the bulbs were large enough to make this 

 possible. In this way were secured the actual comparative effects of 

 the watering, as shown in the accompanying tables : 



Effects of irrigation on size of onions. 



Effects of irrigation on yield of onions. 



It is at once apparent that in most cases the yield was materially 

 increased bj^ watering, although in one instance — the Red Wethers- 

 field — the total yield was slighth" 'greater on the unirrigated plat. If 

 this exception is studied, however, it will be seen that, although the 

 total number of pounds was less on the irrigated soil, more small and 

 fewer large onions were produced on the unirrigated soil. In this 

 connection, also, it should be stated that the Wethersfleld onion is a 

 variety well known to be drought re-sistant, and hence would natu- 

 rally be less influenced by artiflcial watering than the others-. 



Yellow Globe, which requires a moist soil, gave a remarkable 

 increase in jaeld, due to irrigation. (PI. Ill, fig. 2.) The test shows 

 that in almost any season onions may be irrigated with large profit to 

 the farmer or gardener. 



