Tillage and Irrigation 77 



feet is sufficient, but a grade of three and three-fourths 

 inches in one hundred feet is permissible. Hillsides may- 

 be irrigated by running the furrows on contour lines, 

 but this is an added expense and inconvenience (Plate V). 

 A grade of *six inches to a rod can be used in hillside irri- 

 gation if the flow of water is small. It is important that 

 the water shall not come into direct contact with the 

 vines or berries while the sun shines; this would cause 

 scald. Bring the land to an even grade, otherwise the 

 high places will be too dry and the low places too wet. 



Methods of applying water. 



On medium loams, irrigation is commonly by means 

 of temporary furrows, laid off between the rows with a 

 plow or scooter, and level culture practiced. Where 

 the soil is rather heavy, as in the Pajaro Valley, California, 

 the land is thrown into beds or ridges fifteen to eighteen 

 inches wide, foiu- to five inches high, and two feet 

 apart. These irrigation ridges are made by throw- 

 ing two furrows together and leveling with a drag. In 

 seasons of heavy rains they provide surface drainage, 

 as well. A row of strawberries is set on each edge of the 

 ridge. The beds are high enough so that water does 

 not touch the fruit. The water furrow is used to walk 

 in, so as not to compact the soil around the plants. In 

 Texas, double-row ridges are two feet wide and eight 

 to twelve inches above the bottom of the water furrow. 

 The distance between ridges is about three feet; this 

 interval is tilled after irrigations. In southern California 

 the plants are set fifteen to eighteen inches apart on low 

 single-row ridges. The water may be turned into al- 

 ternate furrows during the ripening season, so that one 

 will be dry for pickers. 



