IRRIGATION OF THE GARDEN. 255 



trying a novel experiment for the irrigation of its 

 celery field, which is proving a big success in every 

 way. The irrigating is done by means of rows of til- 

 ing laid in the ground about a foot below the surface. 

 The tiling cannot be placed together snug enough to 

 be water-tight, and at every coupling the water forces 

 itself through the joints. Rows of tiling are laid every 

 twelve feet, and these are supplied by a long ditch fur- 

 nished with a number of gates which regulate the 

 water - supply, the 

 ditch being filled by %^.^^ 

 a large pump, and a 

 piece of land that 

 would ordinarily 

 take three or four 

 men three days to 

 irrigate may now be ^i^- 64-section of tiled 



J • .-I . CELERY BED. 



done m that many 



hours with the help of these men. A drop of two feet 

 on two acres is given the tiling, and the lower end is 

 securely closed, which gives the water considerable back 

 pressure. A se(5lion of this tiling is given in Fig. 64. 

 Of late years some gardeners are adopting what is 

 known as the new celery culture. By this method the 

 crop is planted closely, and no carting or handling is 

 required, for as the plants struggle for light they nat- 

 urally assume an upright position. The light is 

 excluded below and the self-blanching kinds become 

 white and tender. With so heavy a crop on the 

 ground a great deal of water is necessary. One 

 gardener plants 6x6 inches each way, which gives 

 ?L hundred and seventy thousand plants to the 



