THE IKRIGATION AGE. 



307 



to cause too rank a growth of tops without the forma- 

 tion of as many tubers as if the plants were not irri- 

 gated. It is better to permit the potatoes to continue 

 growing in the mellow soil in which they were planted, 

 as long as they are growing thriftily, than to compact 

 the soil by too early or too excessive irrigation. The 

 less water the crop can be grown with and the more 

 thoroughly it is cultivated, the better will the quality 

 of the tubers be. 



The potatoes planted January 9, 1901, as will be 

 seen by referring to Table VI, gave a lower yield than 

 those planted February 1st. This was due to the fre- 

 quent frosts that occurred during March. Those 

 planted earlier were larger when the frosts came and 

 consequently sustained more injury than those planted 

 later. On the other hand, those planted the latter 

 part of February did not have sufficient time to make 

 a full growth before the warm weather of May, and 

 consequently did not give so large a yield as those from 

 either of the other two plants. Judging from the ex- 

 perience of the past four years, during average years 

 a larger yield from a given amount of water applied 

 may be expected from potatoes planted during early 

 February. During mild winters a heavier yield may be 

 secured from potatoes planted about the middle of 

 January, but during no year, according to our ex- 

 perience, is it wise to postpone planting much after 

 early February, if a full return from the water ap- 

 plied is to be expected. The two objects to be kept 

 in mind are the avoidance of the March frosts and the 

 securing of the principal growth of the crop before the 

 heat of May. The attainment of these two objects is 

 not always easy. If planted too early or covered too 

 lightly they are apt to be injured by frosts in March. 

 On the other hand, if they are planted so late or covered 

 so deeply that they are not nearly full grown by May 

 they will not produce a satisfactory crop, no matter 

 how much water be applied to them. 



PUMPKINS AND SQUASHES. 



Pumpkins, squashes and cucumbers are irrigated 

 in the same manner as are melons. Furrows are made 

 four to eight feet apart, water run through them and 

 the seed planted along one side when the soil is suffi- 

 ciently dry. 



The only squashes cultivated generally in this 

 region are the early bush varieties. These are planted 

 in February and March and produce their crop before 

 the heat of summer. The common winter squashes 

 grown so extensively in the North are grown very little 

 here, as they do not endure well the heat of our sum- 

 mers, no matter how much water is applied to their 

 roots. Instead of these squashes is grown the Cashaw 

 pumpkin, which does well here, and keeps well through 

 the winter. For winter use it is planted during June, 

 and from the time of planting until fall needs frequent 

 irrigation. 



Cucumbers are planted at about the same distance 

 and irrigated in about the same manner as muskmelons. 

 They are planted during February and March, and 

 from that time on need quite frequent irrigation. They 

 do not usually produce many pickles after the heat of 

 June. For a fall crop they may be planted during 

 June and July, in which case they will need frequent 

 irrigation. 



SORGHUM. 



The seed of sorghum is sown in the bottom of fur- 

 rows during May, June and July, a light covering of 



earth thrown upon the seed by dragging a bush through 

 the furrows or by turning a light furrow with a plow, 

 and water run through the furrows soon after planting. 

 Some growers leave these furrows permanently and 

 run water through them every ten to fifteen days. The 

 better way, however, usually is to cultivate up the fur- 

 rows after each of the early irrigations and make fresh 

 ones for each subsequent irrigation. After the sorghum 

 has reached such a size that it is not convenient to 

 furrow it, the furrows may be left for the later irri- 

 gations. By this time the sorghum will shade the fur- 

 rows and they will not become hard and baked as they 

 will before the crop covers the ground. As this crop 

 is grown entirely during the warm weather of sum- 

 mer, considerable water is required to produce it, but 

 on account of its excellent system of roots not as much 

 water is needed as might be expected. 



STRAWBERRIES. 



Strawberries are irrigated in this region almost 

 entirely through permanent furrows. The furrows are 

 either left open at each end or they are connected at 

 alternate ends, and an endless ditch through the patch 

 thus formed. This method of irrigating through an 

 endless ditch is necessary in small pieces, especially 

 where the ground is sloping. The water is simply 

 turned in at one side of the piece and permitted to 

 make its way, by flowing back and forth, through the 

 entire piece. If the strip across which the furrows 

 extend be long, water is admitted at several places along 

 the side, either at all places at the same time or at 

 the different places successively. If the field be large, 

 especially if it is long and nearly level, strawberries 

 can be irrigated to better advantage through furrows 

 that are open at each end. A small stream should be 

 turned down each furrow and permitted to run long 

 enough to wet the soil about the plants properly. If 

 the streams are small enough, little water will escape 

 at the lower ends of the furrows. 



Whatever the method of subsequent irrigation, the 

 procedure in setting the plants is much the same. 

 Water is run througli the furrows, the plants set along 

 the water line a few days afterward and water again 

 run through the furrows as soon as practicable. In 

 the case of the endless ditch arrangement, the water 

 run through before setting the plants usually fills the 

 furrows about half full ; hence the plants are set about 

 midway between the bottom and the top of the ridges. 

 Along the open furrows the plants are set near or at 

 the edge. 



For the first few weeks subsequent to the first irri- 

 gation after setting, water should be applied often 

 enough to keep the soil about the roots constantly moist. 

 When the plants have become established the soil about 

 them does not need to be kept quite so moist, but 

 should never become very dry. The frequency of irri- 

 gation necessary will depend upon the nature of the 

 weather. During the cool weather of winter irriga- 

 tion twice a month will be sufficient. During March, 

 April and the early part of May irrigation once in 

 eight days will ordinarily be sufficient. From the lat- 

 ter month until October, strawberry plants should re- 

 ceive water once in four days. During the remainder of 

 the fall months once in eight to twelve days is suffi- 

 cient. 



The advantage of the endless ditch arrangement ia 

 the convenience of irrigation, especially upon uneven 

 ground. 



