CHAPTER XII 



IRRIGATION IN TUB EAST 



Several of the best eastern .i^ardeners felt that 

 abundance of water was needed to make their work an 

 absolute success. Asserts L. E. Dimock of Connecticut : 

 *' Irrigation facilities are much to be desired. Capital 

 invested in windmill, pumps, etc., for the purpose of 

 forcing water into a position that can be utilized would 

 be a profitable investment ; for in a dry season the sup- 

 ply of vegetables is short in general, and it is then that 

 good prices are obtained. 



" The hill that grew the largest pumpkin, eighty- 

 one pounds, was watered three times a week through 

 a wooden spout inserted in the hill before being filled, 

 reaching the bottom. One pail of water once in three 

 days was poured into the spout ; in this way the water 

 reached the bottom of the hill. The moisture being 

 taken up by the roots is the correct way of irrigation. 

 Water poured on the top of the soil causes the earth to 

 crust over and retard the growth of plants. Moisture 

 deep down causes the roots to run deep and by thus 

 doing gathers nourishment. Hills thus treated pro- 

 duced pumpkins of a size much larger than where no 

 water was used." 



This chapter describes the several ambitious and 

 systematic attempts made to secure proper conditions 

 of moisture regardless of the season. Although the 

 extra cost of outfit and labor was considerable, the 

 watered gardens were usually very profitable. 



Watering a City Lot. — Worn-out, weedy, drouthy 

 and generally demoralized land made a good garden 



