Expense of Fitting Up. 23 



tributed to the crops. Where windmills are used, for ob- 

 vious reasons, the storage capacity must be greater than 

 Avhere steam-pumps are employed. This may amount 

 to a considerable addition to the first cost; but, on the 

 other hand, the cost of steam-pump and boiler is some- 

 what greater, and the running expenses considerably 

 so. There are incidental advantages attending the 

 use of steam which may be of great importance. The 

 preference must depend upon the circumstances of 

 one's situation. 



The expense of fitting up any such arrangement for 

 irrigating a market garden is so great that most gar- 

 deners think that they cannot afford it. Even for a 

 small piece of a few acres, the cost would be at least 

 from $2,000 to $3,000; on a larger place, a much 

 greater amount. If one has not the means to pay for 

 these facilities, and does not feel warranted in sroins: 

 into debt for what he wants, of course he must do 

 without them, and depend on transient waterings from 

 summer showers. But it becomes more and more evi- 

 dent every year that such a course will ruin the man 

 who follows it. The ill effects of the increasing irreg- 

 ularity of the rainfall are mitigated, it is true, by 

 deeper ploughing and the construction of drainage 

 works, but all crops (some more than others), in addi- 

 tion to every other aid that can be given them, will 

 need besides, at certain times, abundant watering. 

 Even in the most favorable seasons, resort must be 

 had to artificial watering, at intervals, to secure the 

 growing and maturing of a crop such as to give satis- 

 faction, and reward the gardener for his labor. 



