Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1889-11-14
SOUTHERN AGRICULTURAL.
sub-Irrigated Gardens.


An interesting series OF experiments
in growing vegetables by sub-irriga-
ton is going forward in South Flori-
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 HIS irri-
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
by windmilIs. The latter, however,
develop so small an amount of power
that they are Of very little use
A very small sub-irrigated garden is
required to supply all tho 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
ther, that 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 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
moro 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 sutfi-
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 prime necessity to supply the
daily needs of the people as well as
secure to the planter the most salts
factory practical results. They would
also be of great advantage in produce
ing vegetables for shipment to sections
locked fast in ice and snow, and also,
in supplying canning factories at other
seasons. Finally, they will tend to
concentrate effort on smaller areas and
greatly increase the wealth as well as
the comfort OF increasingly prosper
Gus communities.
Varied modes are being adopted, the
standard garden being about as fol-
lows: Trenches four feet wide by 22
inches deep are dug across the garden
IL feetlpem center to center; in the
bottom perfectly level bed of cement
is laid, and the slider brought up four
inches, making trough four inches
deep and level from side to side and
end to end. When this has hardened
it is given thin coating of cement to
make it absolutely water tight. This
is then filled with shell, fragments OF
rock, or of wood; or boards 1x4 inches
are set on edge about an inch apart
and small spaces left between the ends
that the water may percolate freely.
At intervals of few feet boxes made
of six-inch boards are set upright,
reaching above the. level of the
ground TO give a supply of air.
The she'll. rock or boards arc
then covered with grass, palmetto
leaves, bush, ETC., and the trench filled
with the earth removed, or with more
fertile soil. A pipe connects each
trench with the source of water sup
ply, and the inHowing stream is reg
ulated by stop-cock. An outlet is
also provided to carry off all surplus
| water In case OF continued we
weather tho trenches act as drains; il
there drought, the water in tn,
cement reservoirs is drawn up by
capillary attraction, and the plants are
supplied at all times with the exac
amount of moisture required. The
cost of tho work is from $500 10 81, 00C
per acre. Other plans and modifca-
lions of this plan are being tried, oil
which / may give an account in ;
future article Sherman Adams, il
American Garden.
|
Methods of Culture.