The Care of Growing Crops 207 
Irrigation. In humid regions the natural rainfall is 
such that there is seldom a complete failure of all crops. 
In arid regions the rainfall is not sufficient to support 
any crop, and the necessary water must be supplied 
through some sort of irrigation. But provision for irri- 
gation is also highly desirable in humid regions, for here 
it does not always rain when the crops need water. 
Periods of drought occur at some time nearly every year, 
during which time the plants suffer, their rapid growth 
is checked, their qualities of tenderness and good flavor 
are greatly impaired, or pos- 
sibly they may fail com- 
pletely to produce a crop. 
Therefore it pays the gar- 
dener to have ready some 
means of supplying water 
whenever it may be needed. 
For watering flats, hot- 
beds, and cold frames, and 
for watering at time of trans- 
planting, the sprinkling can 
is sufficient. But only a 
very small garden can be 
watered in this way. 
A hose fitted with a spray 
nozzle and connected with 
a city water supply, a tank, 
or a force pump gives excel- 
lent results. Various sorts 
of lawn sprinklers, ‘‘ water 
witches,’’ and ring or shower 
Fic. 124. The right way to water. 
The water is directed to the soil about 
the roots of the plants. 
