=-12= 
It was used on all crops without top with three-quarter inch drop pipes to each 
watering except at bedding time (two heavy bed. A main two-inch control valve and three=- 
waterings followed by light cultivation) for quarter inch valve for each bed were installed, 
four years. Snaps, Poms, Peas, Iris, Stocks, A one-inch galvanized pipe was run thru the 
and Tomatoes were grown. Only Tomatoes were bed end with a threaded end projecting, so 
top watered at feeding. that a cap could be installed when watering. 
We find the following advantages: In watering, the two-inch valve is turned 
on and the three-quarter drop pipes that en- 
Labor saving-one less man needed (50,000! ter each bed thru the three-inch land tile 
plant ) are filled with water. This is allowed to 
Watering can be done any time of day. stand for about two hours and then the one— 
Much better growth and quality. inch caps are removed at the end of the bed. 
No foliage diseases, therefore fine, clean Our experiment indicates that is is desirable 
foliage on finished product. This gets to make every fifth watering a surface water 
top prices. Better soil condition be— ing. 
cause of no packing which is serious in 
our heavy soil. Easy removal of old crop Frequency of watering was for six to ten times 
and reworking. Gets rid of the dreariest per month, 
and hardest-to-teach job in the greenhouse. Tensiometers were used, 
These beds were planted last April. 
In my judgment, not having a comparable 
area planted at the same time with the same 
grade of plants to make a comparison, wouid 
estimate that an increase of production up to 
the first of March this year, would be about 
threé roses per plant, In addition to this, 
our experience has been that we get much great- 
er stretch, consequently longer grade of rose. 
This year we are installing additional 
automatic beds, and we expect to have about 
33,000 plants growing in beds so equipped, 
In closing, would say we are enthusiastic 
about the future of automatic watering, and 
we are surprised how much water roses will 
really take when watered by this method, 

Burt Smith'e steel benan for propagation with 
the tank and float valve on the side, Bench JOHN S. ELLIOTT, PRESIDENT 
designed and made by Mr. Smith. 
ORE AE SE RERE AR MESH BE Hr ob ab AA ab aba 
DWE HH 

WHH-ELLIOTT & SONS (onjrony me thy Cate 
Bick seed ater OMEN eT rowers) Aoi 
GREENVALE, NLY. 
1. Variety——Peter's Briarcliff ena dd a 
2. Number—5000 plants Here is the report on the V—Bottom benches, 
3. Construction of bed—Beds approximate- that we have in one of our rose houses, which 
ly 200 feet in length divided into two seo is used for automatic watering tests. This 
tions of approximately 100 feet. We employed greenhouse is 250' x 50', containing sixteen 
@ local contractor who cemented the bottom of V-Bottom benches. During the past year, we 
ground beds to an average depth of three tried out one bench with an electric tensio~ 
inohes with a pitch to the center of the bed meter and automatic valve. This system seems 
of about one inch, In the center, a depression to keep the plants much wetter, and we have a 
Was made in grade and cement poured around a more vigorous growth than in the others that 
wooden form of just sufficient width to hold are watered by hand. In the balance of this 
sections of three inch land tile, After ce— house, we try to maintain a constant level. 
menting, and removal of form, land tile was By this, I mean that the water is always to 
laid in each bed, and the entire bottom area the top of the gravel. This lot is very good. 
of the bed was covered with pea gravel. The We are now installing some of the benches with 
beds were filled with sterilized soil and the chicken float valves. These will be connected 
plants planted. These 100 feet seotions of to the water on the ends of the bench, and 
the beds had a pitch of two inches. At the should be installed within the next few days. 
low end a two-inch water main was run overhead 
