CHAPTER XIII. 



UNDERDRAINING AND IRRIGATION. 



Too much water in the soil is as bad as too little. TIM. 



THE strawberry is such a thirsty plant when it is 

 loaded with fruit, that ample provision should 

 be made to give the bed all it can use of water. 

 In ordinary seasons on some soils this can be done by 

 thorough mulching, retaining the moisture provided 

 by spring thaws and rains throughout the fruiting 

 season ; but in dry weather the crop is often shortened 

 through lack of water unless underdraining or irriga- 

 tion, or both, are resorted to. Underdraining is 

 needed on all soils with a hard clay bottom, whether 

 the season be wet or dry, and a bed should never be 

 set in such a soil without underdraining, as failure, par- 

 tial or complete, will result if the season be either very 

 wet or very dry. Underdraining will double the crop. 

 Irrigation is not practicable on ordinary farms, but 

 when a bed can be planted near a stream or pond 

 that will yield an abundant supply of water it has been 

 found advantageous to irrigate, which will largely 

 increase the crop and greatly lengthen the bearing 

 season. 



E. G. TlCE Underdraining makes a larger and much better 

 crop. N. Y. 



Uuderdraiuing by first drawing off the surplus water encour- 

 ages the plants to make a much deeper penetration of the soil with 

 HORACE J. SMITH their roots, which is an immense aid to 

 the production of fine large berries during a critical time in the 

 life of plants. Wis. 



