Irrlsatlns the Propagating Beds— Perfect Conditions Produce Perfect Plants. 
varieties of plants paid the nursery a high compli- 
ment on the general vigor and purity of stock and 
issued the following certificate, a duplicate of which 
is put on all the packages sent out. 
CBRTIFICATB OF ITTJRSBRY INSPECTION. 
No. 27. 
Three Rivers, Mich., Oct. 18. 1900. 
This is to certify that I h.ive examined the nursery, stock 
piul premiscsof R. M. Kellogg and find no indications ot the 
presence of any dangerous insect, pest or fungus diserise. 
(Signed) D W. TRINE, 
State Inspector of Nurseries and Orchards. 
IRRIGATION. 
The largest crops and finest fruit we ever grew 
were produced without irrigation by holding the 
rains of winter and spring in the ground by fre- 
quent surface tillage and mulching quite heavily 
between the rows in winter which prevented evap- 
oration the next season until after fruit was picked, 
but here oiu- work requires new conditions. We 
are breeding plants with the view of improving 
their physical condition and they must be allowed 
to spread all over the ground and not be thrown 
around in a mat by the cultivator but each must 
have its own root pasturage and sunlight to develop 
the fruit forming habit. 
This can readily be accomplished by the fruit 
grower who has only a small plat and propagates 
from plants already bred to the highest standard. 
The dust mulch is easily maintained by the garden 
hoe but here we are striving to produce the best 
"Mother Plants" in the world, and we are going to 
accomplish it. It is now and shall continue to be 
the headquarters of fruit growers in this line. 
The present season was moderately wet until the 
middle of August when a severe drouth set in. 
Our irrigating pump was started and the right de- 
gree of moisture was maintained until fall rains 
came so that we are able to send out the largest 
and best rooted plants we have ever growu. 
Every plant is not only a thoroughbred but its 
best qualities have been fully developed by grow- 
ing it under the very best conditions. 
Our plant consists of a No. 6 centrifugal pump 
with a rated maximum capacity of 1400 gallons per 
minute, made by the Morris Machine Works, 
Baldwinsville, New York. The power is furnished 
by a twenty-five horse power gasoline engine, 
made by Olds & Son, with works at Lan- 
sing and Detroit, Mich. It is the most sim- 
ple and perfect engine made. Needs little 
attention further than starting and stopping. Tlie 
water is carried tlirough a large cast iron pipe 
twelve hundred feet to near the center of the fann, 
hydrants being conveniently located and from 
these the water is carried through a ten inch hos i 
made of heavy cotton duck to the sluice boxes as 
seen in the engraving. 
These sluice boxes are made of three boards 
each twelve inches wide and sixteen feet long so 
that one fits into the other making a continuous 
trough. 
They have gates and slides for the regulation of 
the flow of water which is let out from openings in 
the sides into small deep ditches made with a special 
plow for the purpose. The water soaks down deep 
from the bottom of these little ditches and as .soon 
as they dry off the cultivator goes over it and holds 
the water from coming up. It then percolates out 
through the .soil and rai.ses.by capillarity until it 
reaches the loose earth where the evaporation is 
stopped, holding the soil sufficiently moist so the 
plants are well fed. 
Great care is exercised to prevent flooding as 
tint would pack the surface and then it would dry 
out very fast. 
About two thousand barrels to the acre is applied 
at one time which will last about ten days. 
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