THE HOME VEGETABLE GARDEN 109 



in figure 33, is one of the best implements known for fitting the 

 land for planting fine seeds of any sort. 



Irrigation. There is no question that it pays to irrigate in 

 the arid sections of the country. The so-called humid sections of 

 our country are subject to frequent droughts of greater or less dura- 

 tion, and often the strawberry crop or a part of the vegetable crop 

 is entirely lost from lack of moisture. Considering the value of 

 the garden, no cheaper insurance can be provided, where water 

 under pressure is available, than the installation of one of the 

 simple methods of sprinkling now in use. A gas pipe with per- 

 forations laid on the surface of the ground will serve to dis- 

 tribute water, but if the pipe can be supported at some height and 



FIG. 33. Meeker harrow 



the water supplied either directly from a tank or pump under pres- 

 sure, so much the better. A much larger area can be covered by 

 rotating the pipe in such a way as to direct the water first to one 

 side and then to the other. It is still better to place small nozzles 

 or orifices, made especially for the purpose, in holes drilled in the 

 pipe. When these methods are too expensive, if water is available 

 it may be conducted through a hose made by tearing unbleached 

 muslin into strips about 10 inches wide and sewing the edges 

 together so as to form a 3-inch tube, with a piece of 3 -inch tin 

 spouting slipped into the end and connected with a reservoir. The 

 hose should be closed at the far end, and as soon as it is filled, 

 the water will pass through the meshes of the cloth and wet the 

 area near it. This method has been successfully employed by celery 

 growers and market gardeners. Such an arrangement is suited for 

 watering seed beds before the seedlings appear, as it can be rolled 

 from one side of the bed to the other as the wetting progresses. 



