BOOK OF THE HOME GARDEN 



the water can spray unless you are on a place which 

 already has this system ; then I am sure a line of pipe 

 can be put up for your garden. 



If you are in a part of the country where you 

 must irrigate by ditch, make troughs in the ground 

 between the rows of plants with your hoe and allow 

 the water to run into these troughs for an hour. 

 Then, when it has sunk into the ground, draw the 

 earth back into the ditch so the surface will be level 

 again. The reason we draw the earth back is to 

 make the garden look well, and to cover the very wet 

 surface so it will not bake and crack and so let 

 the moisture out. 



If you water by a sprinkling can, hold it as high 

 as you can without hurting yourself or get an old 

 box or chair to stand on. Wet the plants down 

 thoroughly, give them a good long drink, even more 

 than you really think is enough, because you want 

 the water to go down deep into the ground to draw 

 the roots down. If you water with a hose, stand 

 far off and let the spray of water rise in the air, 

 then fall on to your plants, and be sure to wet the 

 ground thoroughly. You see, we want to get as 

 much air mixed with the water as we can, also have 

 the water, which is usually cold, become slightly 

 warmed by passing through the warm air. 



112 



