METHODS OF APPLYING WA.TEE. 133 



flooding after they are half grown. If covered with 

 water the crowns decay. All species of the cabbage 

 family require a good deal of water. In other words tlu-y 

 like wet feet and are very particular how the water is ap- 

 plied. All plants in a dry climate should be pushed in their 

 early stages of growth by a judicious application of the 

 proper amount of water and frequent cultivations, at no 

 time letting them stand, or go back from want of water 

 and proper attention. Plants in general need much less 

 water than is usually applied by almost everyone. They 

 do far better and suffer much less with two inches on 

 the surface applied two or three times during their growth 

 than they do with twelve inches on the surface applied 

 five or six times in a season. It is a sad mistake to put 

 on too much water. 



The determination of the proper time to irrigate and 

 the amount of water to apply must lie for the most part 

 with the farmer himself. The humidity or dryness of 

 the atmosphere, as well as the position and condition of 

 the soil, are to be well considered, and common sense is a 

 better guide than is philosophy. If trees are allowed to 

 get too dry the sap of the stalk commences flowing back 

 to the roots, accompanied by falling of the leaves, and 

 water is often turned on too late to save them. On the 

 other hand, if too much water is applied it stimulates a 

 too rapid growth, and the probability is that if not cut 

 back and thoroughly hardened in the fall, they will be 

 found in the spring to be entirely dead, or standing sim- 

 ply an outside live shell with a black and dead heart. 

 Anyone can easily learn just about the degree of moisture 

 in soil necessary for the healthy growth of a plant, and 

 the nearer uniform the condition of -the moisture the 

 more vigorous and healthy will be the plant. 



The best time to irrigate is early in the morning be- 

 fore the sun acquires very great power, or in the evening 

 when it is about to go below the horizon. A good time 



