THE MOISTURE SUPPLY

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIV, 24 March 1930, Page 8

THE MOISTURE SUPPLY

ARTIFICIAL WATERING The warm, sunny days of Ihe last few weeks have resulted in the supplies of moisture in the soil being sadly depleted, and Ihe effect on the crops can lie guessed. Kvoii where mulching has been employed the necessity for augmenting the supply has become necessary by this lime. The rale of transpiration during the period in queslioll has hern asloUlldillg. and in Iho cases where Ihe mulching was applied I lie majority of Ihe moisture has pas 1 oil I hroiigh the leaves, and not from Iho surface of Ihe soil as might be imagined. The effecl of any shortage of moisture is not merely a slackening off in the growth of the crops, hut is more Farreaching than this. In the ease of crops such as cabbages, etc., the dry conditions may result in the produce becoming tough before it is used. The only w.iy to prevent I his is to maintain ihe rale of growth as Well as possible, which eamiol be done in any oilier way hut by keeping the moisture supply up In the requirements of the plants.

The effect of Ihe dry weather on Ihe various inseel pesls is another matter of

which mil ice should In* taken. When Ihi' plants arc growing well I lie pests have splendid cliniiees of thriving. lint when I heir growth slackens off I lie. crops stand a fair chance of being overcome by the pesls. As long as the. plants are kepi growing they are ahle to hold their own fairly well against the parasites. ft is useless waiting for (he rain to come, as this is too uncertain, and, therefore, there is nothing else to do but apply the required moisture by artificial methods. The different methods by which this may be done have been discussed before, and so further mention of 1 hose will be superfluous.