The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-07-04

the market and other gardens are in full
swing and the florists are caring fr
their plants, a bulletin issued by
the Department OF Agriculture on the SUD
jeei OF the use Of water in facilitating veg
etable growth will be found to be interest
ing. Extracts from the bulletin follows:
1T is the generally accepted opinion of
florists and gardeners that watering plants
with very cold water is detrimental 20
growth. but no one has undertaken TO state
definitely how cold the water may be with
out producing this result. Ii is the com
mon opinion. however that water applied
TO greenhouse plants should not be much
colder than the air Immediately about them
In order to ascertain the facts in the case
more definitely the Wisconsin station Ia
stituted a series OF tests. The plants were
grown under glass except where otherwise
noted.
Twelve cuttings OF col US, as nearly ali
IN size and vigor as could be obtained were
divided into four lots and placed in sand.
They were watered with water at % de-
grees. 50 degrees. 65 degrees and SO &c
gTeSS, Fahrenheit In twelve days all were
rOotd equally well. They were potted on
and the watering continued. There was no
noticeable difference in growth and vlgOA
after the cuttings were taken, when the So
degree lot WIS slightly the highest This
advantage was only temporary, however,
for in q few days the 50-degree and 90
degree lots slightly exceeded il IN height.
Ninety days after the cuttings were taken
The 35-degree lot was plainly checked. but
the other three were practically equal
This test was repeated with water at 32 40,
20. and Ice degrees. In this case X was
difficult to discover and influence due 10
the temperature OF the water used.
Transplanted tomato plants We're d.
vided into four lots and watered with wa
ter at 30. SO, g.. and So degrees. The 90
degree lot made the best growth through
out the test which lasted for thirty days
The IS degree lot made the slowest
growth. but was in no other respect in
ferior 10 the others This test was re-
peated with water at %. 50. and so de-
grees- After sixty days the % degree
lot Eas slightly the best The plants
were the tallest. ripeBed earliest, and the
plants and fruit weighed the most This
trial was repeated with pants from seed
saved from the fruits Of the first crop
Plants from the % degree lot were wa
tered with water at 32 degrees, those from
the 60 degree lot were watered with Wa
ter al 20 degrees. and thoaa from the 80
degrees with water at 100 degrees
In this case the 100 degree lot yielded
gree lot was next IN order, while me 40
degree lot yielded the least; but the off
. ference Is so slight that the results may
be considered duplicates
seed was again saved from this crop,
planted, and different lots wstered with
water al 81. 40 20. and 100 degrees, Two
months from the date Of sowing thJre
was no difference between the lots that
could be ascri5ed to the different tenn
. If ha W.
case the 81 degree lot yislded more than
the 20 degree lot, but less than the 100
degree lot
a thousand seeds OF forcing radisa
were sown in each OF three plats and were
watered with water at %. -. and 40 de-
{ grees. respectively The 30 degree lot was
f considerably slower in terminating than
the others In this test the yield Of rad
ishes was smallest in average weight IN
the 80 degree and the largest in the 30
: degree lot the difference being, however,
Z only 10 to Is per cent In a second test.
{ however. there Was noticeable difference
Water az 3 degrees gave decidedly tie
F best results. while 100 degrees gave the
poorest.
Beans watred with water al b. iG- 10.
and leo degrees were equally vigorous
Water Al 81 and 40 degrees gave the best
results Lettuce watered with water at
/ % degrees yielded slightly more than 9th
er lots.
In addition 70 the above. two trials were
made under outdDcr conditions Eighteen
half barrel tubes were sunk in the ground
until the tops were level with the surface
and filed with soil All were suitably
drained. Nine were watered with ice va
ter: the ether nine with hydrant water,
f; which averaged about 20 degrees in TEN
perature The warm water produced be;-
ter results than the cold and the difference
was much more pronounced in the sum
mer- In the earlier part Of the season both
lots were equally healthy and vigorous;
but later when the weather had become
cooler and the perioi OF most vigorous
growth had passed. the plants watered with
ice water appeared Unhealthy.
"Radishes and beans were planted In
three plats in the open ground; one plat
was watered with ice water. one with hy-
drant water and GSs not watered at all
| Those watered with ice water yielded the
most and those not watered at all the least
although the rainfall az ring the season was
regarded as nearly or quite sufficient for
1.-The development OF crops well cared FOR.
The beans showed no difference in yield
that could be attributed 70 the tempera-
ture of the water. The yield from the TN
irrigated plat was in this case also IEuch
smaller than either of the others
In a number OF these tests a record
was made OF the temperature of the soil
before watering and at intervals for several
hours afterward. The application OF ice
water of course Immediately lowered the
temperature OF the soil several degrees. II
was found that with plants in pots the
original temperature generally was not re,
gained for several hours The application
Of water of 40 degrees OF above. ETC. was
found to have no effect Of importance. the
original temperature being soon regained
after a rise or fall
From he results OF these and numes
Gus other trials not here noted the conclu-
sion appears fully warrantable that the
growth of ordinary field and garden crops
is not affected by the temperature Of any
water ordinarily available for irrigation
purposes
THE temperature OF the soil about the
roots of the plants so quickly regains its
original temperature that 40 check to
growth is likely 20 result
1T is concluded from the results Of the
outdoor work that no harm can result from
using for irrigation purposes water from
the coolest springs or wells. for
the temperature OF the water from these
sources will not be less than 30 degrees in
any ease when taken from the well or
spring and by the means ordinarily en-
plOyed in irrigation would be raised many
degrees above this point before reaching
the roots of the plants.
1T is concluded from the results of the
greenhouse work that for vegetable and
Towering plants comTaCnly grown undei
glass. well OF spring water may be freeIy
used at any time Of the year without