1250 The Vegetable Industry in New York State 



When heavy winds have drifted the muck so that ypung celery 

 plants are partially covered, the soil must frequently he 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 

 i 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 



