The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1889-12-26
SOUTHERN AGRICULTURAL.
sub-lrrigated Gardens.

GIOu Is SOluS IOFWdFU III DOuG1 IIOEA~
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 a great measure independent
of the weather. It 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 superb
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 windmills. 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 the vegetables
chat can be used by a family. Some
who have used them to grow vege-
tables for sale, and have kept a record
of tbs, quantities produced and sold,
find on figuring up the results that
their returns have exceeded the rate
of two thorISsud dolla-s per acre. Fur
Their, that large variety of vegetables
can be success sfully grown any month
in the year, the constan supply of ma
nure giving a uniformity of growth
that in a great degree seems to dis
pense with the usual effects OF the Diff
ferent seasons of the year.
One important feature of &1e method
is the fact that it emphasizeA' the inn
portance OF intensive cultivation 1t
shows the folly of spreading one s self
out thin over ten acres, when much
taore satisfactory results can be Sc
cured from one acre.. e tbs 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 for1neH Success with small
plots Of land means the multiplication
Of homes where plenty abotffda
Though sub-irrigated gardens can
not fail to be of great benefit In ali
parts of Uncle Sans broad domains. !
South Florida is evidently the locality
III 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 exceptions In December
and January. but at no ei1ne suff-
GENTLY severe to injure hardy 7egeta-
bles; the temperature rarely going
lower than IS 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 produc-
ing vegetables for shipment to sections
locked fast in ice and snow, and also.
in supplying canning factories at other
seasons. Finally. they viii 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 %
inches deep are dug across the garden
IL feet from center to center; in the
bottom a 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 SHE'LL. 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 a 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 shell, rock or boards are
then covered with grass, palmetto
leaves, bush, ETC., and the trench filed
with the earth removed, or with more
fertile soil. A pipe connects each
trench with the source of water sup
ply, and the infowing stream is reg
uiated by a stop-cock. An outlet is
also provided to carry off all surplus
water. In case of continued wet
weather the trenches act as drains; is
there q drought, the water in the
cement reservoirs is drawn up by
capillary attraction. and the plants are
supplied at all times with the exact
amount of moisture required. The
cost Of the work is from $500 to 81, 900
per acre. Other plans and modiica-
tions of this plan are being tried, of
which | may give an account in a
future article.-Sherman Adams, in
American Garden.
Methods of Culture.
In answer to queries of correspond
eEtS who fail to entirelv Orasn Tru;++5s