184 THE BOOK OF CORN 



during the middle of the day, showing that the evap- 

 oration more than balances the supply of water reach- 

 ing the roots by contact or capillarity. The delay of 

 the first irrigation serves a good purpose in causing the 

 roots to extend downward to seek moisture and so 

 start the growth in the right direction to prepare the 

 plant for any lack of moisture that may occur. Early 

 irrigation tends to make the plant shallow instead of 

 deep-rooted, the direction of the roots being parallel 

 with the surface or at a slight angle to it. Any after- 

 extension caused by a short supply of water in this case 

 is not nearly as effective as when the roots are already 

 pointed downward, directly toward the moist soil. 



Flooding and Furrow — Corn may be irrigated 

 either by the furrow or by the flooding method. By the 

 former the water is confined to furrows running near 

 the rows or midway between them, and passes through 

 until the soil is made wet by capillarity. By the latter 

 method the water is distributed over the field from 

 head ditches and laterals the same as for small grain 

 crops. Farmers are divided in opinion as to which of 

 these methods is better. Though a large majority of 

 them follow the former, there are many points favor- 

 able to the latter. By flooding the work is more 

 quickly done and less labor is required to prepare for it. 

 The soil takes up more water and is more thoroughly 

 and evenly saturated, and because of the extra mois- 

 ture taken, in many localities one irrigation is saved 

 during the season. Those who have followed the 

 flooding method claim that no harm comes from it, if 

 the irrigation is followed by cultivation as soon as the 

 ground is dry enough to be worked to prevent baking, 

 and this precaution is necessary, too, even in the fur- 

 row method. 



Soils differ so much in their texture and tendency 

 to puddle and bake that neither method can be recom- 



