AFTERCARE — FERTILIZERS 55 



being at the edge of the strawberry patch and 

 the laterals laid beneath each matted row of 

 strawberries. More often the main is laid with 

 laterals every ten or twenty feet apart without 

 regard to the crop planted on the soil. 

 The advantages of this system are: 



1. As the water comes from below up it is 

 a great deal like capillarity, sometimes 

 spoken of as an ideal method. 



2. Compared to the furrow, it is less ex- 

 pensive, as once installed it will last for years, 

 as it does not require moving of the soil each 

 year. 



3. Does away with any obstruction in the 

 field, everything being below ground. Its 

 greatest advantage. 



4. Earth mulches once given, are not de- 

 stroyed by this method. 



Following are the disadvantages: 



1. Water does not spread laterally from 

 these pipes sufficiently, so it is difficult to 

 give the crop enough water. 



2. Owing to above, in order to force water 

 laterally, more water is needed than by the 

 furrow method. 



3. Where cost of water is high it would 

 therefore be too .expensive. 



