64 



the bottom. Water enough for the operation can be sup- 

 plied in two or three applications ; what more is added 

 tends to puddle the soil and injure it. Patience is needed 

 for the first watering, for it cannot be hurried, but can 

 easily be overdone. 



In all subsequent watering it must be borne in mind 

 that it takes a long time for the water that is put in the 

 bottom to reach the upper layers of soil; and that no 

 water is lost. At first when the plants are small, it will 

 probably be sufficient to water once in one or two weeks. 

 By a watering is meant to run water into the bench until 

 it runs out at the overflow. In three or four hours it will 

 all have been taken up by the bricks, and will be given up 

 slowly to the soil. As the crop grows, watering must be 

 more frequent, but will rarely need to be oftener than 

 once in one to three days. If the surface of the bench 

 does not keep dry, too much water is certainly being ap- 

 plied. The amount to be used must be a matter of ex- 

 perience, and requires careful judgment. The tendency 

 at first is to over water. The process is so different from 

 the usual surface method of watering that some time and 

 close observation are required in order to fully master it, 

 and obtain the greatest advantage from it. 



It will be a convenience in construction and give greater 

 control over the watering, if the benches are divided into 

 lengths of 25 or 30 feet by partitions. These sections can 

 be at different levels, which will also provide for the slope 

 in long houses. 



Experiments carried on since my last paper make it 

 certain that the extra feeding of the plants can be done 

 by applying the liquid fertilizer through the bottom, of 

 course taking care that no solid material is allowed to pass 



