268 



FARM DEVELOPMENT 



and the plants get their roots well developed to enable 

 them to secure water from the subsoil as they mature. 

 In cold regions winter grains should have sufficient 

 water in autumn that they may develop strong roots 

 which will endure the severe conditions of winter. Irri- 

 gation in cold latitudes should not be so late as to 

 encourage late maturity of trees, or in case of winter 

 crops as to stimulate too late growth, causing the plants 

 to be in poor condition for winter; better have the ground 



fairly dry when freez- 

 ing begins. In some 

 soils the "heaving" of 

 clover and wheat 

 plants from the freez- 

 ing of the soil is much 

 worse if it is thor- 

 oughly saturated with 

 water than if com- 

 paratively dry. Grasses, 

 clovers or other peren- 



Figure 170. Flooding from field laterals without nial Or biennial Crops 



should have only suf- 

 ficient water to enable them to go into the winter with 

 strong, well-matured roots and crowns. In the spring, 

 most cultivated plants need an ample supply of water 

 with which to enable them to start out a vigorous 

 growth. Grass crops are usually benefited by rather 

 large supplies of water frequently applied. Winter and 

 spring cereal grains respond to goodly supplies of water 

 in their earlier growth, and as the period of ripening 

 advances, they do quite as well if given only a medium 

 supply of water. Such luxuriant growers as alfalfa will 

 give an abundant harvest every few weeks if at the time 

 of each mowing they are supplied with several inches of 

 water an inch meaning sufficient water to cover the 

 surface an inch deep. Indian corn thrives best with a 



