10 



VEGETABLE GARDENING. 



thoroughly and frequently, and thus watering may be avoided. 



Cultivate at once after irrigating, if the land will per- 

 mit of it, so that the soil will not bake; evaporation will 

 thus be prevented, and water will be saved in the soil. 



Do not apply more than enough water to nicely moisten 

 the land and avoid getting it water-soaked. 



Do not think that irrigation will take the place of culti- 

 vation, for it will not, since without cultivation irrigation is 

 seldom successful. 



Water for irrigating purposes should be somewhat warm 

 when applied. Cold springs do not afford a satisfactory 

 supply for some crops unless first pumped into a reservoir. 

 A temperature of 60 degrees is desirable, though not always 

 necessary for the best results. 



Aim to wet the roots of the plants and avoid getting 

 water on the leaves. 



Wooden troughs afford the cheapest conduits for water 

 and should be used whenever practicable. Iron pipe is expen- 

 sive and much more difficult to manage-than wooden troughs. 



Figure 1.— Method of irrigating crop planted in rows. 



Sub-irrigation is a new term that refers to the application of 

 water to the roots of plants by means of underground chan- 



