IRRIGA TION. 3 1 5 



This chapter aims at Httle more than to put the reader on 

 the right track for further investigation, and to suggest a few 

 of the first principles and requirements of irrigation. The 

 great majority have httle realization of the amount of vrater 

 required, and very often much loss is incurred and injury 

 caused by attempting artificial watering with an insufficient 

 supply. Mr. Dunkley, at Kalamazoo, started with a wind- 

 mill, but found it wholly inadequate. Partial watering is 

 worse than useless. By liberal mulching, very much less 

 water is required, and much longer intervals between irriga- 

 tion may elapse. 



If one designs to undertake irrigation upon a large scale, 

 he should employ the services of an expert, and *' make 

 haste slowly." At the same time, many fruit farms are so 

 located, or might be, that the laborer with a pick and shovel 

 could solve the problem of an abundant supply of water. 



When unfailing moisture can be maintained, and plants 

 are not permitted to bear in June, nor to make runners, al- 

 most a full crop may be obtained in the autumn. 



