SOILS AND LOCATIONS 9 



The question of a cheap and abundant supply of 

 water should be carefully considered in connection 

 with both home and market gardens, but this is of 

 especial importance to the commercial gardener. An 

 abundant supply for both can often be arranged for 

 at a small cost by a little forethought and planning. 



The value of irrigation in all sections is becom- 

 ing more fully appreciated every year. The quality 

 many vegetables depends directly upon their 

 crispness and tenderness, which in turn depend 

 directly upon the water available. There are few 

 seasons in many sections of the United States 

 where irrigation could not be profitably practiced 

 from one to ten weeks during the year. The feel- 

 ing of assurance and freedom from the vagaries of 

 the weather given by a good irrigation plant can 

 hardly be overestimated. The principal element of 

 chance in crop production is in this manner largely 

 eliminated and the gardener becomes in a very true 

 f.ense the master of the situation. 



The various vegetable crops require different soils 

 and different treatments. Lima beans thrive best 

 on sandy loam soils, while the field or soup beans 

 give better results upon heavy soils. Onions and 

 celery thrive best upon the muck lands of the re- 

 claimed swamps. In the home garden, where it will 

 always be desirable to grow a large number of plants 

 for the sake of variety and continuous supply, it is 

 to be expected that some of the plants will do well 

 upon the soils in question, while others will not 

 thrive so readily. Most garden plants, however, can 

 be grown with reasonable success upon any soil 

 approaching the garden type where good care is 

 given. 



