136 
SEVENTH ANNUAL MEETING OF THE 
charged directly among these larger roots at the base of the 
trunk. Two or three barrels of water thus applied serves the 
double purpose of cleaning the collar roots and exposing them 
to light and air, also carrying water to the lowest roots, where- 
ordinary rains or irrigation is never felt. This treatment is 
considered by many a certain specific for the dreaded foot-rot,, 
and from my own observation I feel very sure that such it* 
really the fact. 
Probably the idonl wny of irrigating is by the use of auto¬ 
matic sprinklers, the pipes covering the space to be treated so 
completely that the spray lrom the outlets will meet between 
them and the whole ground to be watered as by rain. All this, 
controlled in sections by valves, involves but trifling field work, 
and therefore more conveniently than other methods can be 
worked at night when sunshine is absent. 
This, as I have said, is ideal and very closely conforms to 
nature’s methods. But, unfortunately, when carried out on a 
large scale, it is very expensive in the installment; and in 
using, what is saved in the field is to some extent lost in the 
pumping station, lor the water is forced from the sprinklers 
subject to great lriction. 
Nevertheless, for use in the garden and on the lawn, where 
large spaces are not usually covered, nothing is so convenient 
as the automatic sprinkling; and when putting in a hose and 
nozzle plant for the grove it is always in order to cover a good 
garden and the ornamental grounds by the automatic system. 
In a special installation for a vegetable garden I would always 
prefer to use the sprinkler. 
Perhaps I should here say a lew words about the motive power 
for working our pumps. At present I am obliged to say this,, 
that wherever any large space is to be irrigated, or any con¬ 
siderable volume of water handled, steam is in most cases the 
only adequate power at command. Artesian water is supplied 
to some groves and other vegetation by its own pressure, 
where the land is less than forty feet above tide water. What 
motive power the future may bring forth, who can tell? We 
talk about wind power. We prophesy the further triumphs 
of electricity. We dream of concentrating the rays of the 
sun by reflectors. We experiment with gasoline and other 
mineral oils and with hot air. We fret unceasingly at the in¬ 
ventors for delaying the great discovery which will drive a 
more perfect pump than ever yet known and lift our lakes- 
where, at our pleasure, they will flow almost as cheap as air 
through our fruitful groves and gardens. Yet, after all, when 
we have to do real work, and do it to-day, for us here in the 
woods, we know of no sure reliance but steam. 
