OCR Text |
Show USE THE TRENCH i FOR IRRIGATION Scheme Conserves Water and Labor Best Way to Reach Roots of Plants. The proper amount of moisture Is about as essential as enough warm sunshine, to produce a good garden crop. Too much moisture is worse than too much sunshine, for in tha latter case the soil can be loosened, conserving what moisture the ground holds. When the season Is long and hot with very little rainfall, the cottage gardener, if thoroughly Interested, takes advantage of almost every opportunity op-portunity to play the hose on his growing crops, thinking, of coursa, that he Is doing just the right thing. Perhaps more young plants are destroyed de-stroyed by shooting a cold spray of water on them than are killed or stunted by drought, or other reason. One splendid method of watering a garden, when sufficient water is available, avail-able, and its metered cost Is not to be considered, is the trench Irrigation plan. Small ditches, three or four inches deep, along the plants, with a steady stream of water slowly running run-ning into the ditch, will be highly beneficial, and at the same time conserve con-serve the water supply, by not sending send-ing It where it is not needed. The roots, especially in the dry weather, search for moisture and continue their downward growth. Long roots are advantageous to many plants, while others do not need them. The ditch irrigation plan will be i found most beneficial and interesting, if used as It Is in sections where it ; v. is the only way a series of ditches along each row or a small group of rows, then when the watering is being be-ing done, train the stream through one ditch to the other, until the entire garden is given a good soaking. During a long drought, once a week will suffice when the ditch watering plan Is used. The ditch may be closed each time after irrigating, or it may be left open. By closing, the water Is practically sealed in and naturally Turning Hose Into Ditches. the ground will hold the moisture longer and the top will not crust necessitating Immediate cultivation, such as Is necessary following a heavy rain. |