CROPS. 81 



ply, rather than the needs of the crop. Thus quantities 

 varying from a total depth, during the growing season, of 

 50 up to over 300 inches upon the surface, have been used 

 without any ill effect when the drainage has been perfect. 

 Experience can be the only safe guide ; the thorough 

 soaking of the soil at intervals of five days, should be the 

 limit of the irrigation, and the quantity of water needed 

 to effect this will be the maximum supply required. 

 When economy of water is a point to be considered, as it 

 must needs be when every pint of it is elevated by power, 

 it will be necessary to watch the flow in the distributing 

 furrows and prevent any escapes into pools and surface 

 drains, and such copious watering as would leave water 

 standing in the furrows for more than an hour or two 

 after the flow has been stopped. This must be regulated 

 by the judgment of the irrigator acting through a know 

 ledge of the principles involved. 



THE MANAGEMENT OF VARIOUS CROPS. 



Where the climate admits of it a succession of crops of 

 garden vegetables may be grown throughout the year, 

 and the variations of the seasons practically removed. 

 In the climate of California this is easily done by means 

 of irrigation there practiced, and in most of our Southern 

 States the season of growth may be extended, and in 

 some maybe continued throughout the year, if the supply 

 of water is only secured. This is one of the great ad 

 vantages of a system of irrigation, by which every where 

 a succession of crops, more or less extended, may be se 

 cured. The general management of the principal garden 

 crops will be briefly indicated. 



Asparagus. The most convenient method of cultivating 

 this crop is by &quot; floors,&quot; (see fig. 9, p. 43), over which 

 a thin sheet of water may be flowed from a furrow at the 

 head towards another at the foot, from which the water 

 may be again flowed over another floor below the first. 



