IRRIGATION AND WATER STORAGE. 



185 



is, provided the sandy soil is sufficiently moist. So when 

 soils are stiff, or clayey, long, undigested manure may be 

 useful. It tends to render such soils more open, light 

 and porous. But for sandy soils, we must aim to render 

 them as compact as possible, while the naturally firm 

 clay soils require breaking up and working to make them 

 most productive. 



XIIL IRRIGATION AND WATER STORAGE. 



Admitting Water from Uiver or Creek. 



Relation of Plants to Water. All plants are composed 

 largely of water. Grasses contain 40 per cent., many of 

 the herbage plants, and some of the most valuable, much 

 more. Fruits, vegetables and flowers are made up of water 

 to the extent of two-thirds of their weight. Some of them 

 over 90 per cent. This water has been absorbed through 

 the roots mostly, and is but a portion only of the total 

 moisture absorbed. For water is the medium through 

 which the earthy substances of plant life are carried up 



