The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-07-04

grass clippings are saved for use In the strawberry bed or the rose gar den, and old manure or rotted leaves or leaf mold' from the woods, Is packed around the plants in the pe- rennial border, 1t will have more eff feet In dry weather than the use of expensive fertilizers.
 Considering the ease with which this material can be obtained In most localities 1t is surprising that more people do not take advantage of the many uses to which this may be put.
 Most watering Is still done by use of watering can and hose. But 1t Is remarkable how few people learn that "sprinkling" the flower garden or rose garden or newly set plant does little or no good. If you are go- ing to water at all. do the job thor oughly. The trouble with light water ing is that it stimulates the growth of roots near the surface If at all causing the plant to suffer more when If the watering is withheld. A thorough soaking once a week is more effective than a sprinkling every day.
 To do the Job most effectively a furrow should be opened up with hoe along the row of plants to be wa tered or several holes made down into the roots in the case of individual plants. In this way the water in con siderable quantity can be got directly to the roots and after it has soaked down into the ground, dry earth drawn again into the furrow or over the holes will effectually check evap- oration. Try this method on few plants and you will see how much more effective 1t is than sprinkling g | way. For short beds of perennials | and in other cases where this metho d | cannot be used to advantage. much 1 time may be saved and the job done | more thoroughly by using a wire SUD- l port which may be purchased at any | hardware store to hold the hose and | nozzle in position, directing the spray | just where it is wanted for as long a | time as wanted.
 At best, however, watering with the hose is not wholly satisfactory. It i: slow and tedious work and it is i'm | possible to apply the water evenly 1T quantities as are really needed.
 There are now on on the marke several inexpensive and practical de vices for applying water automatical ly or 'irrigating'' the garden anC grounds. The few types of thes which proved to be most practicabl are the nozzle line" or "overhea, systems" and the circular sprayer The nozzle line system applies tn water more evenly when a consider 1 able area is to be covered but eithe is perfectly satisfactory for Howe beds, shrubs, small fruits, etc. A lin
 of pipe containing the nozzle and witt handle for turning the line so as t
 turn the spray in either direction an
 arrange 1t to be readily portable ma
 be obtained ready for use by merel
 attaching to the regular hose wit
 water at ordinary city pressure. Tn
 circular spray nozzle, is much nor
 effective than the old fashione
 lawn sprinklers'' covering a circl
 thirty or forty feet in diameter wit
 a fine sitting spray that will not in
 Jure even delicate flowers.
 An irrigating outfit will last fo
 years and the operating expense practically nothing. When the ad
 vantages to be gained are -considere perfect flowers and whole crops 0
 fruit, even in the driest season, an
 better flowers and fruit even in tn
 normal season, without imperfection
 from insects and diseases of all kind:
 due to the increased vitality of tn
 plants-the use of an irrigating outf
 to get better results from all tn
 plants you have is evidently a worth 1 while investment