58 MODERN STRAWBERRY GROWING 
and one half tons of water every minute. 
This furnishes abundant protection. 
Uniformity of distribution is also gained, 
which is second only in importance to the 
requirement of applying water. The soil 
can be watered to any degree of dampness 
without any uncertainty or irregularity. 
It has been the common belief that water 
upon the foliage of the plant is injurious to it, 
both because of a possible tendency to fun- 
gous growth and also because of the action of 
the sun’s rays. This is contrary to the fact 
that the most luxuriant foliage is to be found 
in the hot, moisture-laden atmosphere of the 
torrid zone. 
Exhaustive experiments have proved the 
common belief to be in error and have shown 
that the tendency to fungous growth is due, 
not to the application of water on the foliage, 
but to the bruised condition and injured tex- 
ture of the plant, caused by improper appli- 
cation of water. They have also proved that 
the action of the sun is not injurious to the 
moisture-laden foliage, but that moisture on 
the surface of the soil will, under the sun’s 
rays, injure the growth. 
The cost of installation of this system is 
