The Care of Growing Crops 



207 



Irrigation. In humid regions the natural rainfall is 

 such that there is seldom a complete failure of all crops. 

 In arid regions the rainfall is not sufficient to support 

 any crop, and the necessary water must be supplied 

 through some sort of irrigation. But provision for irri- 

 gation is also highly desirable in humid regions, for here 

 it does not always rain when the crops need water. 

 Periods of drought occur at some time nearly every year, 

 during which time the plants suffer, their rapid growth 

 is checked, their qualities of tenderness and good flavor 

 are greatly impaired, or pos- 

 sibly they may fail com- 

 pletely to produce a crop. 

 Therefore it pays the gar- 

 dener to have ready some 

 means of supplying water 

 whenever it may be needed. 



For watering flats, hot- 

 beds, and cold frames, and 

 for watering at time of trans- 

 planting, the sprinkling can 

 is sufficient. But only a 

 very small garden can be 

 watered in this way. 



A hose fitted with a spray 

 nozzle and connected with 

 a city water supply, a tank, 

 or a force pump gives excel- 

 lent results. Various sorts 



of lawn Sprinklers, "water FIG. 124- The right way to water. 

 . The water is directed to the soil about 



witches, and ring or shower the roots of the plants. 



