_Surface Sprinkling._—This method seems to be the closest imitation of the natural rainfall; and yet it is in practice about the most wasteful and least satisfactory of all. It is difficult of application on any large scale, from obvious causes; on the small scale, in gardens and on lawns, its disadvantages become amply apparent. As usually practiced, from a rose spout or spray nozzle, the water falls much more abundantly than in the case of any desirable rain, within the short time allowed by the patience of the operator. If continued for a sufficient length of time to soak the soil to the desirable depth, it compacts the surface of the ground so as to render subsequent tillage indispensable. To avoid this, amateur gardeners usually restrict the time of application, repeating the same at frequent intervals, sometimes daily. The result is that the very slight penetration of the water either fails to reach the absorbent roots, so that it is of little use to them, and is evaporated by the next day’s sun or wind; or else it tends to draw the roots close to the surface, where, unless the application of water is actually made daily, they are sure to suffer from the first intermission of the daily dose. In actual practice the sprinkling method is therefore both inefficient and wasteful of water, and exposes the plants to grave injury from any cessation of the water supply. Flooding presupposes land either level or only slightly sloping naturally, or rendered so artificially; usually by means of the plow and horse scraper. _Flooding_ by lateral overflow from large furrows, or ditches, is very commonly practiced where the water supply is abundant and large areas, such as alfalfa or grain fields, are to be irrigated. The overflow is regulated by portable check-boards, proceeding from the highest points to the lowest, and leaving each temporary dike in place until the ground is adequately soaked or the water reaches the next furrow below. In heavy ground the operation may have to be repeated to insure proper depth of percolation. _Check flooding_ necessitates more careful leveling, and the throwing up of small dikes, either temporary or permanent. The costliness of the earth-work restricts the use of this method materially, and the inconvenience caused in tillage by the dikes is objectionable, especially in large-scale culture. For the case of alfalfa fields, which remain permanently set for a number of years, it is however the largely preferred method. In the case of field cultures, the consolidation of the surface that follows flooding on the heavier soils renders subsequent tillage necessary in all but very sandy soils; and hence it should always _precede_ broadcast sowing.