272 • Bulletin 38. 



in the direction the irrigating water is to run, or they may be 

 side by "side. In either ease, it will be well to leave between 

 them space to walk upon when irrigating, cultivating, or gather- 

 ing the vegetables. In deciding the direction in which the water 

 is to run, the fact should be kept in mind that too much fall is as 

 undesirable as too little. A slope of two to three inches to the 

 hundred feet is about right for most vegetables. 



Beets, carrots, lettuce, parsnips, peas, radishes, spinach and 

 turnips should be sown as early in February as possible. During 

 most winters in most parts of Southern Arizona seeds of several 

 of these vegetables will germinate readily at this time of the year 

 without irrigation if sown in moist soil. This is especially true 

 of beets, parsnips and peas, the size of the seed making it possi- 

 ble to cover them sufficiently to prevent the soil drying out before 

 germination occurs. Seed of these vegetables may be sown in 

 level ground, and not furrowed for irrigation until the plants 

 have attained a considerable size. This method may also be pur- 

 sued with radishes, spinach and turnips, if the soil is fairly re- 

 tentive of moisture and the weather not too warm and dry. In 

 the case of the smaller seed, such as that of carrots and lettuce, it 

 will be safer to provide an irrigating furrow before the seed is 

 planted, and sow the latter along the margin of it. Water can 

 then be run through the furrow and the soil about the seed there- 

 by nourished. The radish and turnip seed should germinate 

 within four to eight days ; the beets, lettuce, peas and spinach in 

 seven to twelve days ; the carrots and parsnips in about two 

 weeks, or a little more. 



Of some of the above vegetables it is important that varieties 

 adapted to the region be sown. Of beets, all varieties thrive 

 here, the ones most commonly sown being the Blood Turnip and 

 the Long Blood. Of carrots, Danver's Half-long, the Ox-heart 

 and the Short-horn are the most popular. All varieties of lettuce 

 will grow at this time of the year, but some are much more desira- 

 ble than others. At the Experiment Station farm the Golden 

 Queen has proven to be the earliest variety. The standard head- 

 ing varieties, the most desirable ones to grow, are Hansen, Won- 

 derful, and Henderson's New York. In most sections only early 

 varieties of peas should be sown at this time of the year. The 



