Tillage and Irrigation 81 



The total yield of the irrigated plot was no greater than 

 that of the unirrigated. The increase in early pickings 

 was not sufficient to pay for the irrigation/' ^ 



It is doubtful whether irrigation in humid regions will 

 pay under field conditions unless the water can be applied 

 at little expense. In most cases it is more feasible to 

 increase the water-holding capacity of the soil by adding 

 humus and to prevent the loss of soil water by maintaining 

 a protecting mulch of stirred soil or straw. When straw- 

 berries are grown under intensive market-garden culture, 

 irrigation may be practicable, especially if in rotation 

 with other crops that are benefited by irrigation. A 

 number of strawberry nurserymen have installed irri- 

 gation plants, with profitable returns. 



Special difficulties. 



Irrigation in humid regions presents special difficulties. 

 Chief of these is the necessity for good drainage. It is 

 easy to water-log a soil by irrigation unless it is well 

 drained naturally or is underlaid with tile drains. Another 

 difficulty is the extreme care that is necessary to secure 

 firm berries; over-irrigation gives soft berries. For this 

 reason, some growers irrigate only during the first sum- 

 mer, so as to encourage the development of strong plants, 

 and do not use water during the fruiting year. Irriga- 

 tion is more likely to be practicable in home gardens and 

 in market gardens near large cities than where the fruit 

 is shipped a long distance. A serious difficulty, in 

 many cases, is the cost of water. In arid regions irriga- 

 tion usually is a community enterprise, thus reducing 

 the cost to the individual. In humid regions it is, nec- 

 essarily, a private enterprise. 



1 Rept. N. J. Exp. Sta., 1901, p. 234. 

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