30 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



hose it will take about four days to get over an acre; if put on with 

 an inch and a quarter hose it will not take over one day. 



Running water in the furrow is a most ecomonieal way of applying 

 water so far as labor is counted. This method is very satisfactory 

 where the soil is loamy and slope convenient. It is used for water- 

 ing cabbage, cauliflower, cucumbers, corn, and tomatoes. 



The use of water on my farm has cost me a little over $30.00 per 

 acre per year over a period of ten years and has given good satis- 

 faction. 



Benefits. 



The irrigation of crops may be made to increase the yield from 

 50 to 100 or 150 per cent and at the same time immensely improve 

 the quality of the crop making it more salable. 



The time of maturity may be hastened from three to ten days 

 by judicious use of water. It is particularly noticeable on crops 

 of corn, beans, and tomatoes. 



All the crops we send to market are from 70 to 95 percent water 

 and we should aim to always have enough present in the soil to 

 supply all the plants need. 



Where one crop is thoroughly irrigated the ground is in excellent 

 condition to cultivate and prepare for the next succeeding crop. 

 For example, we apply two or three acre inches of water to a field 

 of beets in late June and the beet crop matures very rapidly and 

 we have considerable water left in the soil when preparing this same 

 field for celery and lettuce. 



In my experience I have found all crops to respond most heartily 

 to irrigation but particularly cucumbers, tomatoes, beets, lettuce, 

 carrots, celery, onions, summer squash, and radishes. 



Irrigation makes possible a more intensive business. I think we 

 can spoil any crop with too much water but most of us never will. 



The use of water in irrigation seems to cause neglect in cultivation, 

 not because lack of the grower's faith in cultivation but because the 

 help are all busy harvesting the increased crop caused by irrigation. 



The Skinner system of irrigation is being installed on many 

 farms in eastern Massachusetts and wherever installed it seems to 

 be giving great satisfaction. 



