62 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
It takes one man most of the time to move the hose around, and 
steer the water around witha hoe. The berries were cultivated oft- 
en, being irrigated each time, 
The hot winds were so severe last summer, that the ground was 
dried out and ready for another soaking at the end of each week. 
But the same amount of water would irrigate twice the amount of 
land on heavy soil. 
The result was that I had some very nice berries. The last berries 
that were picked were as large and juicy as the first ones, and every 
berry developed, and the vines for next year are in excellent condi- 
tion; while berries across the road from mine were not picked, the 
berries were dried up, and next year’s vines look very sick. Heavy 
frosts the first of June killed one-half the crop. I sold about $500 
worth of berries; I don’t think I would have sold $50 worth if I had 
not irrigated. The water from this well was very cold, but it did not 
seem to hurt the vines any. 
DISCUSSION. 
Mr, Phillips (Wisconsin): How many more berries did you 
get than your neighbors on account of irrigation? 
Mr. Wolcott: My neighbors did not pick any berries at all. 
If I had not irrigated I would not have picked any berries 
either. I got $450 worth more than if I had not irrigated. 
Mr. Phillips: What about irrigating that three-quarters of 
an acre of strawberries you told me about this afternoon? 
Mr. Wolcott: I have half an acre of strawberries, perhaps 
less. The year before my strawberries all dried up—I did not 
have any last year. The past season I turned the water in on 
the strawberries, and I dammed the rows up every two rods, so 
the water could soak clear down to the roots; it was so soft I 
stepped into the mud three or four inches. I sold three or 
four thousand quarts of strawberries. I put in about a day or 
a day and a half irrigating this strawberry patch, and the well 
flows 150 barrels an hour I kept right on soaking it 
Mr. Phillips: You said you turned the water on three days 
and nights after you picked? 
Mr. Wolcott: After the vines were picked I turned the water 
on two or three days, and my vines were in nice condition for 
next year. 
Mr. Brackett: Is it a self-flowing well? 
Mr. Wolcott: It does not run unless I turn it loose. It flows 
about 150 barrels an hour. . 
Mr. Wedge: Did you run it day and night? 
Mr. Wolcott: During the hottest part of the year I ran it 
nights. Iran it about ten hours on an average. 
Mr. Kellogg (Wisconsin): How did it affect the shipping 
qualities of the berries? 
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