1250 Tur VecEeraBLe Inpustry 1s New York State 
When heavy winds have drifted the muck so that young celery 
plants are partially covered, the soil must frequently be removed 
by hand. 
IRRIGATION 
As just suggested, most growers are able to procure a good 
crop by the conservation of moisture through good cultivation. 
However, an increasing number feel that the losses incident to 
drouth are sufficient to justify the installation of irrigation equip- 
ment. The overhead type of irrigation is but little used. Many 
control the water table by opening or closing the outlets of the 
ditches. The water level may be raised quite high before plant 
ing a crop, thus filling the soil with moisture. It is then lowered 
and maintained at a level of say eighteen to twenty-four inches. 
An occasional grower employs a furrow system, distributing the 
water from a head ditch through the middles. This scheme is 
quite satisfactory if the pumping cost is not high. It is a little 
difficult to secure even distribution of water throughout the whole 
length of the ditch. The water ought to be so handled as to 
flow from one end to the other very promptly. Then it will be 
gradually absorbed all along the line. 
CROPPING PLANS 
The arrangement of crops on muck land varies greatly in 
different districts. In some places single crops are grown 
almost exclusively. Thus the marshes of the Wallkill river in 
Orange county are used chiefly for onion production; the same 
statement may be made of the Canastota swamp; Fulton and 
Albion have been widely known for their lettuce, and Arkport 
for its celery. However, there is a marked tendency toward 
diversification. Except in the warmest parts of the state, it is 
‘difficult to grow a second crop after onions have matured, al- 
though some are willing to take a chance on securing a good yield 
of spinach, since the cost is very low. Two crops of lettuce may 
be matured without difficulty, and in some cases three. Celery 
is sometimes sowed after a crop of lettuce or vice versa. Oc- 
casionally lettuce is planted every fourteen inches apart, but 
every third row is omitted. In this wide space the celery plants 
are set. Thus the two crops occupy the ground together for a 
