ABOUT MAKING GARDENS 83 



true, not only in your melon patch, but in your straw- 

 berry bed and among your flowers. This sprinkling 

 rarely wets the ground more than half an inch deep ; 

 a quick evaporation then takes place, and the surface 

 of the ground is hardened. As soon as this occurs the 

 absorption of atmospheric moisture ceases, and the 

 plants dry up far more rapidly than if let alone. 



If you water at all, water thoroughly. Suppose 

 you desire to water a strawberry bed; let one per- 

 son go ahead and dig a hole by the side of each 

 plant; into each of these holes pour not less than 

 a pint of water and another pint soon after; then 

 let the holes be filled with dry dirt, which prevents 

 evaporation. The water is in there, and the roots 

 will get it. Such a watering ought to last two or 

 three days, even in a dry time. 



I had better add a simple plan of irrigation, with- 

 out what we call watering at all. The simplest way 

 is to run two-inch tile underneath the plants, below 

 the reach of the cultivator. When irrigation be- 

 comes necessary, the lower outlet of the tile can be 

 blocked and the water turned in. When the tiles 

 are full enough, water will soak out into the soil. 



A plan used at some of the experiment stations 

 is to let water run through V-shaped troughs made 

 of inch boards. Water is allowed to flow from the 

 troughs through auger holes. Subirrigation is by 

 all means the best. Running the cultivator, to keep 

 the surface loose, is, however, the best plan for pre- 

 venting the escape of moisture from the ground 



