The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1889-11-06
SOUTHERN AGRICULTURAL.
Sub-Irrigated Gardens.

An interesting series OF experiments
in growing vegetables by sub-irriga-
ton is going forward in South Florl-
da, and the results achieved have been
SO satisfactory that the area OF this
method of culture is being largely and
rapidly increased.
By sub-irrigation the cultivator be-
comes in great measure independent
of the weather. 1t matters little to
him whether the heavens give or with
hold a regular and sufficient supply OF
moisture. In the first case h!s lrrl-
eating trenches carry off all supera-
bundance OF moisture, in the latter the
supply is kept up by artificial means;
by the use of flowing wells or by
pumps worked by steam, by hand, or
bv windmills. The latter, however,
develop so small an amount of power
that they arc of very little use.
A very small sub-irrigated garden1s
required to supply all the vegetables
that can be used by family. Some
who have used them to grow vege-
tables for sale, and have kept a record
of the quantities produced and sold,
find on figuring up the results that
their returns have exceeded the rate
of two thousand dollars per acre. Fur
Their, that a large variety Of vegetables
can be successfully grown any month
in the year, the constant supply OF ma
nure giving a uniformity of growth
that in q great degree seems to dis
pense with the usual effects of the diff
ferent seasons of the year.
One important feature of the method
is the fact that it emphasizes the i'm
portance of intensive cultivation. 1t
shows the folly of spreading ones self
out thin over ten acres. when much
more satisfactory results can be Sc
cured from one acre, if the fertilizer
and the effort be concentrated on the
smaller tract. 1t brings in sharp con-
trast the position of the gardener and
the tiller of the soil, the laborer on
large fields. greatly to the advantage
of the former. Success with small
plots of land means the multiplication
of homes where plenty abounds.
Though sub-irrigated gardens can
not fail to be of great benefit in all
parts of Uncle Sans broad domains,
South Florida is evidently the locality
in which they will doubtless secure
their highest development. A few OF
the more pertinent reasons are that
this section is exempt from destructive
frosts nearly the whole year, there be-
ing occasional exception, in December
and January, but at no time suf1i-
GENTLY severe to injure hardy vegeta-
bles; the temperature rarely going
lower than 35 or 40 degrees. Secondly,
the several weeks of dry weather each
spring and autumn make sub-irriga
ton a prime necessity to supply the
daily needs of the people as we'll a:
secure to the planter the most salts
factory practical results. They would
also be of great advantage in produc
ing vegetables for shipment to section:
locked fast in ice and snow, and also
in supplying canning factories at othel
seasons. Finally, they will tend tt
concentrate effort on smaller areas ant
greatly increase the wealth as we'll al
the comfort of increasingly prosper
Gus communities.
Varied modes are being adopted, tn
standard garden being about as fol
lows: Trenches four feet wide by 9
inches deep are dug across the garder
II feet from center to center; in tn
bottom perfectly level bed of cemen
is laid, and the slider brought up fou
inches, making a trough four inche
deep and level from side to side an
end to end. When this has hardene
it is given thin coating of cement t
make it absolutely water tight. Thi
is then filled with shell, fragments c
rock, or of wood; or boards 1x4 inche
are set on edge about an inch apar
and small spaces left between the end
that the water may percolate freely
At intervals of few feet boxes mad
of six-inch boards are set uprigh
reaching above the level OF tn
ground to give q supply of al
The shell. rock or boards al
then covered with grass, palmett
leaves, bush, ETC., and the trench file
with the earth removed, or with nor
fertile soil. A pipe connects eae
trench with the source Of water SUI
ply. and the inAowing stream is re-
ulated by stop-cock. An outlet
also provided to carry off all surpl'
water In case of continued W
; weather the trenches act as drains;
there a drought, the water in tt
cement reservoirs is drawn up
capillary attraction. and the plants a
, supplied at all times with the exa
, amount of moisture required. II
. cost of the work is from $500 TO 81, OF
per acre. Other plans and modific
, tions of this plan are being tried.
: which l may give an account in
, future article.-Sherman Adams,
! American Garden.
j, --d1 n--r-----
j, Methods of Culture.
T., N, IF