52 BIGGIE BERRY BOOK. 



Strawberries require an immense amount of water to achieve 

 EDWIN BEEKMAN perfection, hence the advantage of low 

 lands well ditched. The ditches can be stopped so the beds can 

 be flooded at night. N. J. 



Underdraining renders the soil loose and protects against 

 ANDREW WILLSON wet and dry weather. Irrigation is rarely 

 needed when the ground is underdraiued and mulched. O. 



BENJ. BUCKMAN Underdraining is valuable on all ground in 

 some seasons and on wet ground in all seasons. 111. 



We have practiced irrigation for raising plants but not for 

 A. I. ROOT fruit. For filling orders for fruit promptly in 

 summer we find irrigation a necessity. O. 



A. G. SHARP Underdraining lightens a heavy soil. Mass. 



All fruit land must be underdrained either naturally or 

 artificially. When the subsoil is porous gravel or sand the 

 WM. D. BARNS natural drainage is complete. A clay or hard 

 subsoil should be underdrained before a crop of strawberries 

 can be grown with any certainty. N. Y. 



W. C. WILSON I believe that Underdraining pays on any soil - 

 except a very dry sandy one. 111. 



Underdraining lightens a heavy wet soil, keeps it from bak- 

 ing, maKies it more porous with a better circulation of air 

 through it, draws off all stagnant water, which some varieties 

 H. S.TlMBRELL of strawberries will not stand at all. The 

 Crescent and Manchester die on a heavy, wet clay soil, and 

 also others of the same strain, but such as the Sharpless, Tim- 

 brell, etc., may thrive on it and produce large crops. N. Y. 



Underdrainage is a great benefit to any wet soil, and some 

 lands not called wet would be greatly helped. Heavy land is 

 EUGENE WILLETT kept more pliable by lessening the chance 

 of its baking after a heavy rain. It is sooner worked and easier 

 kept tilled. N. Y. 



No use to try to grow berries profitably without under- 

 W. W. FARNSWORTH draining unless the soil be naturally 

 well drained. O. 



