WATERING 



WATERING the garden is futile if it is not done 

 thoroughly. The conservation of moisture is the 

 principal work in the garden, and if only the sur- 

 face of the soil is wet, the earth will become hard 

 after the moisture has evaporated, and the air, 

 so necessary to the roots of vegetation, will be 

 shut out. A good drenching twice a week will be 

 far better than a light surface watering every day. 

 If it is practical, flood the garden on watering days. 

 The best time of day for watering the garden is not 

 the day, but the night, as in watering at night all 

 danger of sunscald will be avoided and the water 

 will have ample time to penetrate to the roots and 

 do its good work before the sun's rays begin to 

 draw it heavenward. If it is not possible to water 

 at night, then it should be done very early in the 

 morning before the sun is up ; and during the spring 

 the early morning will answer nearly as well as the 

 evening. 



In watering long rows, wherever it can be prac- 

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