THE VEGETABLE GARDEN 233 



At the Oklahoma Station the total potato crop was increased 

 about 50 per cent by mulching, the marketable crop nearly 100 

 per cent, and the size of the tubers about 70 per cent. Mulching 

 potatoes with old shavings at the New Jersey stations increased the 

 total number of tubers on a small plat about 16 per cent and the 

 weight of the crop about 35 per cent. At the Georgia Station 

 mulching potatoes with pine straw was not found to be of 

 sufficient value to recommend the practice. These conflicting re- 

 sults secured with potatoes would seem to confirm the conclusion 

 reached at the Nebraska Station that mulching is of greatest value 

 in a dry season. 



There is, however, a drawback to mulching that may not at 

 first occur to the reader, viz., the danger it involves from fire. In 

 dry weather a lighted match or cigar dropped upon the mulch may 

 easily start a conflagration that it may be impossible to stop until the 

 orchard is destroyed. It gives disaffected trespassers in the orchard 

 an excellent opportunity to take vengeance upon the owner. 



The cost of the mulch will of course depend much upon the 

 price at which the material may be obtained. Clean wheat, rye, or 

 oats straw would answer the purpose well, and in many localities 

 would be cheaper than marsh hay. In some seasons oats sown as 

 a second crop would grow fast enough to make mulching material 

 by the time of frost. In the vicinity of marshes the coarser marsh 

 grasses that have no value as hay may be cut after the ground freezes 

 in autumn and would make excellent material for mulching. Corn- 

 stalks have been suggested, but they are probably too coarse to keep 

 down weeds. 



It has been suggested that by sowing rye in September, and 

 harvesting the crop the following June, and then sowing the same 

 ground to millet, the rye straw with the millet would mulch an 

 area of plums equal to that on which the two crops were grown, 

 and would leave the thrashed rye to compensate for the labor. 

 This is certainly worth trying by those who have no better source 

 from which to obtain mulching. (Nebr. Sta. Bui., 79, 80.) 



IRRIGATION. 



Throughout the portions of the country where rains occur 

 during the growing season it should not be necessary to irrigate 

 except occasionally in order to produce the ordinary garden crops. 

 In arid regions, where irrigation must be depended upon for the 

 production of crops, the system best adapted for use in that particular 

 locality should be employed in the garden. Wherever irrigation 

 is practiced the water should not be applied until needed, and then 

 the soil should be thoroughly soaked. After irrigation, the land 

 should be cultivated as soon as the surface becomes sufficiently dry, 

 and no more water should be applied until the plants begin to 

 show the need of additional moisture. Constant or excessive water- 

 ing is very detrimental in every case. Apply the water at any 

 time of the day that is most convenient and when the plants 

 require it. 



By the subirrigation method of watering, lines of farm drain 



