PROJECTS 617 



draining from the hole and from the bottom of the barrel, it will 

 not only wash the loam from the holes and expose the roots of plants, 

 but will also wash the fertility out of the soil. 



For careful instructions as to how to raise strawberries, write the 

 United States Department of Agriculture for a copy of Farmers' 

 Bulletin No. 198. 



PROJECT XL. How to Irrigate a Small Garden, pages 366-399 



Inexperienced gardeners frequently make the mistake, in dry 

 weather, of sprinkling the surface of the soil lightly and frequently. 

 This surface supply of water quickly evaporates. Moreover, this 

 method of watering tends to lure the roots toward the surface in- 

 stead of making them strike deep, as the roots of hardy plants 

 should strike, into the soil. It is better, either with garden or 

 lawn, to soak a portion of it at a time, possibly taking several days 

 to cover the whole plot, rather than to sprinkle the surface lightly 

 every day. 



Where one does not enjoy the convenience of an unlimited water- 

 supply and a garden hose, but has to carry water in buckets to 

 the garden, a very satisfactory system of irrigation on a small 

 plot of ground can be established with the aid of large cans and 

 buckets taken from the tin can pile. Take one-half gallon or gal- 

 lon cans or even old galvanized iron buckets. Perforate the sides 

 with a hammer and a ten-penny nail. Sink the cans to the level 

 of the ground, about two or three feet apart, between rows of gar- 

 den stuff. 



Fill the cans with water instead of sprinkling the surface of the 

 soil. A gallon of water furnished directly to the roots of plants in 

 this way will do more good than three gallons applied to the surface 

 of the soil. 



PROJECT XLI. How to Cold-pack a Vegetable Tomatoes, page 440 



Start with clean hands, clean utensils, and pure clean water. 



Use only clean, sound fresh tomatoes. No fruit or vegetable 

 which is withered or unsound should ever be cold-packed. If 

 possible, use only vegetables picked on the day of canning. 



