166 IRRIGATION FARMING. 



towards cultivating a crop is the pruning. This should 

 be done early. All runners should be removed and the 

 crown cut back, when found growing above the surface. 

 Heavy pruning is not desirable, especially on light soil. 

 Neither is it well to pmit pruning altogether in any year. 

 Irrigation can be done by flooding, or by furrows, the 

 latter being the better plan, and once every three or four 

 weeks will suffice. The water should run for twelve 

 hours at a time, and a good wetting just as the buds are 

 forming is very beneficial. No water should be put on 

 after the 15th of August, as the crop is then guaranteed. 

 Tobacco. The soil should be carefully prepared 

 before time to transplant from the frames. Irrigation 

 furrows between the three-foot rows should be made 

 deep and must be in readiness so that the water may fol- 

 low closely upon the setting out. If the soil is moist 

 the plants may be set and the damp earth firmed. If 

 the soil is dry a puddle should be made for the roots, and 

 a small irrigating stream should be allowed to trickle 

 past until the plants take new root. Transplanting is 

 done the same as with cabbages or tomatoes, and the 

 modern plan, where the acreage is large, is to use the 

 transplanting machine drawn by a team. This machine 

 has an automatic jet of water for each hill as the plant 

 is set, and is a great labor-saving device. Frequent cul- 

 tivation is necessary, but water should be applied very 

 cautiously. Too much water causes the tobacco to 

 "french"and become worthless. If not enough water 

 is used the plants will soon wither and parch, thus be- 

 coming of no use as a crop. The tops should be pinched 

 out after the plants reach a bight of thirty inches. 

 This topping process will be followed by a crop of suck- 

 ers equal in number to the leaves on each plant. These 

 must be removed twice, at least, before the tobacco is 

 ready for cutting. One irrigation during the middle 

 period of growth is usually sufficient for tobacco, pmvid- 



