June, 190( 



THE GARDEN MAGAZINE 



283 



ing from the tank to the garden and down 

 one end of it is the main trench, and in every 

 other space between the rows we make a 

 trench with a hoe, when ready to water the 

 garden. When the water is flowing in the 

 main trench, it can be directed into the de- 

 sired trenches between the rows, by dam- 

 ming up with a hoe the ends of those 

 trenches where water is not needed. 



If we are busy with other affairs, and can- 

 not well afford time to look after the spread- 

 ing of water in the various channels, the 

 windmill can be left pumping, and the over- 

 flow from the full tank will flood along and 

 over the one or more trenches left open. 

 Watering is then done slowly. 



A quicker way, taking about thirty min- 

 utes, is to draw the plug from a two-inch 

 auger hole in the bottom of the tank, and 

 by opening and closing the ends of trenches 

 at the main trench with a hoe, distribute 

 fifty barrels of water on the garden. If the 

 soil is well pulverized, so that the water 

 quickly soaks into it, this rapid rush of water 

 is the better method. What we use is 

 practically a system of sub-irrigation. The 

 trenches are never filled to overflowing. 

 The water soaking through from the trenches 

 directly to the roots of the plants, and the 

 surface soil is retained unaltered. It is 

 ideal watering. 



After each irrigation, when the surface of 

 the ground is sufficiently dry, it is cultivated. 



WHAT THE GARDEN GREW 



Our vegetable plot is exactly 5x6 rods 

 (or 82 £ x 99 feet), and it yielded all one 

 family wanted, and compares well, I think, 

 with what you of the East can do. 



The first outdoor planting was on April 

 13th when seeds of lettuce, radishes, beets, 

 parsnips, onions and peas were planted. 

 Later sowings were of string beans, lima 

 beans, sweet corn, Irish potatoes, squash, 

 cucumbers and peppers. The squashes were 

 raised among the sweet corn. 



Cabbage and tomato plants were raised 

 in a hotbed and celery in a box, and trans- 

 planted to the garden when ready. 



After the dead pea vines were removed, 

 late plants of All-head Early cabbage were 

 set in their places. The cucumber vines 

 were ready to cover the space left vacant by 

 the Irish potatoes. Later, two rows of 

 celery were set where the potatoes had been. 



A succession or CROPS 



There is no reason for the majority of 

 people out here to bother about close suc- 

 cession, but we do it just as much for fun as 

 for anything else. Three crops on the same 

 bed is like doing something after all. Be- 

 sides raising a second crop where peas and 

 Irish potatoes were raised, two crops were 

 produced on one small bed, and three on 

 another, each five feet by ten feet in size. On 

 April 13th, seeds of three varieties of rad- 

 ishes were planted in one, and three varieties 

 of lettuce in another. In the latter were also 

 planted seeds of Quickest Forcing radish. 

 The soil was in good condition, except that 

 it was not sufficiently moist, so as soon as the 

 seeds were covered, the beds were watered. 



Two crops of radishes. The first in flower; the second just in condition to gather. Succession of crops is 

 not a matter of necessity when land is plenty. Photographed June 18th 



Cabbage set in the radish rows, and tomatoes among the lettuce. Some of the lettuce w 

 and formed a unique support for the lower branches of the tomatoes. Photographed 



as left for seed. 

 July 23rd 



The garden in fall; beets and parsnips. These and other root crops furnished an abundant supply for the 



winter. Photographed October 18th. 



