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It is a well-known fact that mulch, in the form of coarse hay, 

 strayv, etc., tends to prevent the escape of moisture. This, to- 

 gether with the cleaner fruit that is thus obtained, is one of the 

 reasons for using such materials on strawberry fields. Frequent 

 stirring of the surface soil by cultivation has much the same effect 

 in preventing the escape of moisture as the direct use of mulch. 

 In the experiments by the writer, on the evaporation of moisture 

 from heavy loam and from light loam soils, the soils in a part of 

 each series were frequently stirred at the surface, while the others 

 were not stirred. The average loss of moisture from the light loam 

 soil, not stirred, was equal to IJ inches, while the average loss 

 from the stirred soil was f of an inch. This means that, in a given 

 time, nearly twice as much water was evaporated from the soil left 

 in a naturally compact condition as where the surface was mulched 

 by frequent stirring. 



A strong argument in favor of irrigation in Connecticut is found 

 in the high value per acre of many farm and garden crops. The 

 following table shows the range of value per acre for some small 

 fruits and market-garden crops, as given by practical farmers, 

 when these crops have not been irrigated : — 



Strawberries, f200 to $450 



Raspberries, 200 to 400 



Asparagus . 100 to 200 



Cauliflower, 200 to 400 



Celery 200 to 300 ^ 



Onions, 150 to 300 



It will readily be seen that a loss of one-half on the value of 

 some of these crops, when five or six acres are grown, would cover 

 quite an outlay for water. Two men in Connecticut who have 

 made extensive use of irrigation state that the cost of their irriga- 

 tion plants was returned the first season by the increased crops 

 obtained where water was applied. 



With crops like strawberries and raspberries the benefits derived 

 from irrigation represent only a few weeks' labor and a small ex- 

 penditure of money. So great is the gain derived from having an 

 abundance of water for these crops, at the right time, that good 

 profits have been obtained by the use of a road engine and force 

 pump. In many places this form of power could be hired for a 

 few days and large profits be obtained from its use. 



Before farming products were shipped by rail long distances the 

 prices obtained for the crop in any locality depended largely upon 

 the supply in that immediate vicinity. If the season was not a 

 favorable one for any particular crop, and the yields were light, 



