THE IRRIGATION AGE. 



must be applied fairly strong, but full di- 

 rections as to how to make and use are 

 contained in the leaflet you have. The 

 latest information on the subject is also 

 being printed in the Garden and Field, 

 which you should take. If you have not 

 had experience of either compound, we 

 would recommend you to try the resin so- 

 lution. Make as directed. First dissolve 

 your soda crystals in boiling water, and 

 while the solution is boiling, gradually add 

 the powdered resin, keeping the solution 

 stirred all the time. 



WHEN TO IRRIGATE. 



When to irrigate is a serious problem, 

 especially so with new settlers. To lay 

 down an inflexible rule would be absurd 

 and in fact impossible. The main point is 

 to watch the appearance of the crop and 

 give water as the conditions demand it. 

 Root crops will thrive best if irrigated fre- 

 quently; corn when small, should have but 

 little water, frequently none, until it is 

 several inches high, but when it is earing 

 out it will require a great deal of water. 

 This is true of all crops when the grain is 

 filling out and the most rapid growth is 

 being made. The water should be shut off 

 when the grain is hardening. 



WATER AND A HOT SUN. 



It is dangerous to allow water to stand 

 about the plants when a hot sun is shining 

 on them. Cabbage and even alfalfa in 

 some soils can be killed in this way. The 

 applicatien of water to growing crops is a 

 matter that requires a great deal of inves- 

 tigation. There are so many conditions to 

 be considered and different objects to be 

 accomplished that comparatively little in 

 the way of rules and regulations can be 

 definitely stated. What is best in some 

 soils is not good for others and what is 

 good for some plants in some climates is 

 not good for the same plants in other cli- 

 mates. The best injunction is to "go 



slow/' . 



BEANS AND PEAS, WHY NOT. 



The business of growing beans and peas 

 seems to be somewhat neglected. Both 

 crops are profitable and the market is as- 



sured. In these crops there is no over- 

 production as the census returns show di- 

 rectly the opposite. In 1891 the net im- 

 ports of beans and peas over the entire ex- 

 portation amounted to nearly one and a 

 half millions of dollars. 



W T hy should either of these articles of 

 food be imported when there are so many 

 fields in the West that would yield hand- 

 gome returns if planted with these vege- 

 ables. Proper cultivation, harvesting 

 and marketing, are essentials of success. 

 The demand is not supplied by home 

 growers. 



BEES AND FRUIT. 



The question of bees and fruit trees 

 again commands the attention of horticul- 

 turists and apiarists. In some - sections 

 where bees are numerous, the fruit grow- 

 ers are troubled during the packing season 

 and naturally condemn the bees without 

 stopping to reflect upon the advantages de- 

 rived from them in fertilizing the trees 

 and vines from which the fruit is taken. 



The proprietor of a cherry orchard in 

 California found that his trees did not 

 bear remunerative crops after the fiat of 

 the raisin growers banishing the bees to a 

 distant canyon. Being convinced of the 

 necessity of bees to fertilize the bloom he 

 procured some colonies, located them in 

 his orchard and then realized satisfactory 

 returns. 



SUGAR FROM POTATOES. 



A cablegram from London says: An 

 extensive economical revolution is in sight 

 if the claims of Dr. Prinzen Gerling turn 

 out to be what the doctors assert they are. 

 Dr. Gerling, a government official of Java ,. 

 and formerly professor of chemistry at the 

 University of Amsterdam, announces the 

 discovery of a simple method of converting 

 potato starch into sugar. He has lodged 

 his description of the method with the 

 French Academy of Sciences so as to se- 

 cure priority for his invention, although he 

 is not quite ready to make the details 

 public. 



