56 CALIFORNIA VEGETABLES 



cement pipes laid by a machine operating in the trench which pre- 

 vented access of roots because it had openings only at intervals 

 where the water was discharged into air spaces each of which could 

 be seen through a vertical pipe rising to the surface and furnished 

 with a cover. This has worked well for many years on Mr. Hamil- 

 ton's place for the irrigation of trees or other deep rooting plants 

 at considerable distances apart, for which use it seems best suited. 

 To fill the earth with such pipes with openings near enough together 

 to serve for shallow rooting vegetables, is appallingly expensive, 

 and the stand pipes cumber the surface so that nothing but hand 

 spading or cultivating could be done without destruction of them. 

 It would be cheaper and better to pipe the ground with iron pipes 

 and brass faucets even though the theoretical advantage of subter- 

 ranean application had to be abandoned. 



At the East within a few years the use of the drain tile laid 

 along the rows of vegetables near the surface has given the best 

 results in an experimental way. By this plan the tile are to be taken 

 up and relaid for each crop, which can be quickly done. Water 

 thus administered may serve well in soil not disposed to puddle 

 down or possibly may be more successful where the summer air is 

 less dry and soil baking" less active than in California, but in many 

 of our garden soils the soil would solidify, and even if moisture 

 were adequate to prevent baking, the proper entrance of air would 

 be largely prevented. On the other hand, in coarse soils water 

 applied underground would quickly pass out of reach of shallow 

 rooting plants. 



The experience of Californians is against any such arrange- 

 ment of soil and water. Except in such soils as have already been 

 described as working well by seepage systems, surface application 

 of water followed by thorough surface cultivation, produces as a 

 rule the best combination of moisture, heat, aeration and rapid root- 

 extension, which pushes the plant to its utmost in rapid and satis- 

 factory growth. 



WINTER IRRIGATION. 



Winter irrigation is increasing in California as a surety that 

 the year's water supply will be above a certain minimum. Decidu- 

 ous trees and vines, on soil that is fairly retentive, can be carried 

 through a satisfactory year's growth and fruiting with good culti- 

 vation, by artificially soaking the soil in winter. In this way injury 

 to the trees or vines by a year of scant rainfall is avoided. The 

 practice has not the same value in garden practice because there 

 still will remain the demand for summer irrigation if succession of 

 fresh vegetables is to be secured. But for ample crops of staple 

 field vegetables which are usually grown without summer irriga- 

 tion, the winter soaking method is of the same importance that it 

 is with fruit trees it insures ample moisture every year. 



