298 THE GARDE N UM AVGAGZ A IeNpE 
An underground system for lawns in which the water 
is sprayed over a circle 
surface flooding, especially to supple- 
ment other systems in bad droughts. 
But its disadvantages are many. Who 
wants to see ditches dug all over the 
garden? It washes the soil—indeed it 
is impossible to use it on steep slopes 
under ordinary conditions; the soil 
cakes on the surface unless carefully 
tilled at just the right time; lastly, it 
takes considerable labor which, in the 
East at least, must be skilled. 
There is a new contrivance from the 
West that may prove useful here. It is 
composed of a large flexible hose with 
adjustable apertures at intervals. Made 
for use in connection with ditches in 
Western gardens, etc., we can use it on 
flat or gently sloping lawns. Surface 
flooding is an excellent way to water 
lawns. A somewhat similar home-made 
apparatus was described in THE GARDEN 
MAGAZINE of August, 1915. By the way, 
subirrigating and surface flooding leave 
our lawns and gardens entirely depend- 
ent on occasional showers for the fol- 
jage bath, which is as necessary to the 
health of the plant as our morning tub. 
Surface flooding is invaluable in the 
Rose garden; no other method of soak- 
ing the roots can compare with it. In 
one of the most beautiful Rose gardens 
of America this flooding is very simply 
managed. A broad plank is laid down 
between the rows and the hose is laid 
on it and left running. The water runs 
off around the board which prevents bad 
soil washing. When the ground is thor- 
oughly soaked in one place the board is 
shifted. 
But subirrigation and surface flood- 
ing are dull and colorless methods of 
irrigation compared with squirting 
water. I defy the most hardened citi- 
fied sniffier at country life not to itch 
with longing when he sees a garden 
hose, or to thrill with satisfaction when 
he has finally wheedled it from his 
friend’s gardener! Romance—youth— 
lost? Never, while we have the garden 
hose! 
Professional gardeners will tell you 
that the simplest is far the best method 
of using the hose. Your real gardener 
will use his thumb at the end of the 
hose in preference to the most expensive 
and desirable nozzle. He says that with 
his thumb he has complete control of 
the stream which can be changed from 
a heavy stream to finest spray with a 
mere twitch of the digit. As different 
plants, in all stages of growth, require 
different baths, the advantages of his 
method are not to be controverted. 
Nevertheless, it is by such exercises 
that he becomes a horny-handed toiler. 
Dilettanti—for such are all save pro- 
fessionals, no matter how earnest our 
work and enthusiasm—are rarely will- 
ing to sacrifice their soft, comfortable 
skin when such admirable nozzles are 
for sale in the nearest hardware shop. 
Adjustable hand nozzles are now so 
made that the stream control is quick 
and easy. They are less liable to clog 
than the fixed spray nozzles. They re- 
quire more pressure than the hose with- 
out nozzle but otherwise work about as 
well. In using them one soon learns 
that the coarse spray is apt to injure 
fine foliage and flowers, besides wash- 
ing the soil badly. 
Some nozzles are made with fixed 
Overhead system based on central distribution point 
whence the water extends in a circle 
sprays. They require but moderate 
water pressure, but on small areas or 
narrow strips much water is wasted. 
On small or complicated areas hand 
sprinkling with a watering-pot is best. 
Indeed, it is always necessary in the 
garden to supplement more extensive 
systems. The rose spout on the end of 
the watering-pot with the gentle force 
of head behind it is nearer like a pleas- 
ant shower than any other artificial 
system. 
Sometimes it is found desirable to 
attach the rose spout of the watering- 
pot as a nozzle on the hose. I know one 
gardener who contrived an excellent 
device in this connection. He attached 
the rose and then tied the last six feet 
of hose onto a light bamboo pole. With 
this he is able carefully to water the far 
corners of his deep borders from the 
path. 
When it comes to patent sprinkling 
aparatus there is such a great variety 
from which to choose that it is neces- 
sary to proceed with some care. All 
these apparatus come under two prin- 
cipal groups—on movable base or on 
The pipe in this application of the jet spray to lawns 
is hidden from view 
fixed pipe lines. The fixed systems in- 
volve the greatest initial outlay, but 
they are most economical of labor and 
wear of apparatus. They can be ad- 
justed to cover any given area thor- 
oughly and evenly when installed, ob- 
viating the uncertainty which results 
from the personal equation. Movable 
sprinklers cost less for installation, but 
the expense involved for upkeep and 
operating amounts to a great deal in the 
course of a few years. With movable 
sprinklers there is danger of reducing 
the water pressure needed for efficient 
operation by having too small hose or 
too great a length. Hydrants are re- 
quired at frequent intervals. 
Movable sprinklers should be more 
durable than fixed sprinklers as they 
get more wear and tear. They should 
have firm bases so that they can not be 
easily tipped over. It is a great advan- 
tage to be able to move them without 
turning off. the water. Because of the 
labor involved in moving them they 
should cover the largest area consistent 
with the pressure at one setting. It is 
wise to have them adjustable to differ- 
ent sorts of sprays according to the 
needs of the area covered. 
The fixed pipe line systems must be 
carefully adjusted exactly to cover a 
given area. They must be easy to con- 
trol and economical to run with the 
pressure offered. When placed in lawns 
flush with the surface, as is done with 
one or two sorts, they are liable to in- 
jury from wagon wheels on the more 
formal visits of the chore man. So they 
should be placed where least liable to 
injury. It is also necessary to have 
them where they will not interfere with 
other functions when not in operation. 
It is a nuisance not to be able to run 
the lawn mower over them, for instance, 
or to have little holes in the turf into 
which one stumbles on moonlight 
nights. Last, but not least, they should 
not be placed where unsightly piping is 
in full view in flower garden or lawns. 
It is scarcely necessary to go into detail 
about fixed pipe line systems since the 
field was so admirably covered in THE 
GARDEN MAGAZINE for June, 1915. 
Usually the area covered by the spray 
from a single unit, either movable or of 
a fixed system, is circular, or a sector of 
a circle. It is easy to see that in order 
JUNE, 1916 
