The Winslow mail., 1911-05-13
INSURES GOOD CROP
Irrigation Used for Growing Veg.
etabIeS in East.
With Up-to-Date System Farmer Is
Absolutely Independent, SO Far as
Moisture Is Concerned-Plant
Used at Any Time.


For many years great attention has
been given to irrigation in the west,
! but not until recently have any con-
| siderable number of vegetable grow
ers in the east seriously considered
the desirability of irrigating their yari-
Gus crops Peter Henderson, w. W.
Rawson, Ohmler and others of the
older writer's frequently spoke of the
increased profits derived from wa
tering or sprinkling their crops, but
only an exceedingly small percentage
of growers resorted to any systematic
method of irrigation. In all of the
eastern states there are now many
up-to-date irrigation plants, writes
| Prof. R. L. Watts of the Pennsylvania
State college, in the Orange Judd
| Farmer.
Water has so many functions that
gardeners should not fail to recognize
| it's Importance in the growing of gar
den crops. 1t is a powerful solvent.
Manures and fertilizers are of no
value to crops unless there is sufti-
cient water in the soil to dissolve and
render available the various elements
of plant food Water also holds in
solution various acids, as carbonic
acid, which are more powerful sol
vents than water alone. Food is con-
veyed in the soil to the feeding roots
by the constant movement of water,
and after entering the plant it is again
carried by water to the leaves, which
are the laboratories of the plant.
All garden crops are made up
largely of water. Usually the per-
centages run from about rs to 95.
Now the amount of water actually
stored up in vegetables represents an
exceedingly small percentage of that
taken in by the plants. Every pound
of dry matter stored in the plant re-
quires from 200 to 400 pounds water
to produce it. The solutions Of food
which enter the plant are very dilute,
and the water not actually stored in
the plant transpires from the leaves.
This is looking at the matter from a
scientific point of view. Now let us
see what the benefits are.
1t frequently happens that there is
dry weather at the time seeds should
be sown. The gardener may delay
sowing on this account, and thus may
delay the maturity of the crop, de-
creasing yields and reaching the mar
ket after prices have declined. With
an irrigating plant, which may be
used at any time, the soil may be
watered before sowing, and as often
as necessary afterward to maintain
proper moisture conditions for germi-
nation This will not only cause
prompt termination, but will secure
more even stand than is possible in
soils lacking a uniform supply of
moisture.
Watering is often important at the
time of transplanting. 1t may be the
means of saving an entire crop and
putting 1t on the market much earlier
than would be possible without irri-
cation. For example, looked over
garden at Cleveland last summer
| Immediately after a large plot of let
tuce had been transplanted Part of
the plot was easily reached with
sprays from overhead pipes. The
| plants on this portion of the plot had
recovered from the effects of trans
planting and were making fine growth.
The rows which could not thus be
reached with water had suffered
seriously, and 1t is doubtful whether
they would recover sufficiently to
make a good crop.
With an up-to-date system of water
ing the grower is absolutely indie
pendent, so far as moisture is con-
ceTned Experienced growers in all
parts of the country concede that irri-
cation increases yields, improves quail
ity and makes it possible to mature
crops earlier than where it is not
practiced. The question of quality in
many vegetables is largely a matter
of succulence. They must be grown
quickly to secure tenderness, but
quick maturity is impossible without
an ample supply of soil moisture.
Many examples might be given show
/ ing increased profits from irrigation
One large grower of my acquaintance
claims that irrigation makes it pos
sible for him to make several thou
sand dollars more year than could
be done without artificial watering.
Many growers who are prepared to
irrigate claim that their profits are
greatest in years of drouth. when
neighbors are unable to produce sat
isfactory crops, and when prices are
naturally higher.