1 HE IRRIGA TION A GE. 251 



old Spanish practice with some part of the more systematic depressed- 

 bed practice of the Italian market gardeners. The method is to plow 

 in deeply a good covering of manure and harrow thoroughly until the 

 land is well settled. Then find a direction in which the land is nearly 

 level and back two or more furrows to form a ridge. Rake over the 

 surface, shaping up the ridge evenly, and on its crest mark out a nar- 

 row ditch with the hoe. Connect the head of this ditch with the 

 water supply aud run in a small stream, aiding its course with a little 

 cutting and filling until it runs evenly the whole length of the ridge. 

 This will settle the ground, and some smoothing with the rake will be 

 needed. When the ground is in good shape, sow the seed or set the 

 plants along the top and sides of the ridge and along the base also. 

 If the soil is not too leachy, the water will percolate slowly and evenly 

 and moisten 1he soil without cropping out on the surface. The ridges 

 can be multiplied and distribution of water to their several heads be 

 arranged with troughs or otherwise, and the overflow at the ends can 

 be led away to trees or clover patches. Water can be run from time 

 to time to these channels as required, and the banks and bases can be 

 used for a succession of vegetables. 



The method requires work and care to arrange the grade, etc., in 

 the first instance, but for the rest of the season the irrigation is auto- 

 matic, though, of course, much hand hoeing will have to be done 

 among the plants, for the constant presence of moisture and manure 

 makes large weeds as well as vegetables. It is surprising, however 

 how large a home supply of vegetables in variety can be grown on 

 200 or 300 feet of ditch bank. 



RICE CULTURE IN THE SOUTH. 



A correspondent of the New York Tibune writes thus interestingly 

 of the progress of rice culture in the South: 



Rice culture in the southwest, particularly in Texas and Louisi- 

 ana, is increasing at a rapid rate, and the great profits resulting there- 

 from are attracting a large amount of capital to this comparatively 

 new American industry. Rice is an easy cereal to grow, and on lands 

 costing from $10 to $50 an acre one man, with the assistance of four 

 mules, can cultivate 100 acres, making in many eases, it is estimated, 

 about $25 net to the acre. According to the opinions of students of 

 this country's agricultural products, rice is the most certain crop of 

 all the cereals. And as an agent in producing energy in the human 

 body rice is exceeded only by oatmeal, butter and cheese. Rice can 

 even withstand western tornadoes and, and it is recorded that in the 

 Galveston tornado of a few years ago the farmers on the lower Colo- 



