Mar. 2, 1920.] Agricultural Gazette of N,S.W'. 205 



can get on to the land, and get the cultivating done as rapidly as possible, as- 



the sooner you get over the land and break the crust the more moisture you 



will save ; land on which a crust is allowed to remain for any length of time 



loses moisture very rapidly by surface evaporation. Plough the orchard 



in the autumn after the removal of the fruit, even if the soil turns up in lumps 



and costs a considerable amount in shares; there is the advantage (in dry 



districts) of retaining the winter rains. Cultivate during the summer, always 



have your land in order, and never be caught napping, as a week's neglect 



at a critical time will sometimes mean the loss of a crop. Always keep the 



land free from weeds and in good tilth ; it will then absorb any rain that falls, 



and this again is retained by cultivation, whereas on unworked land, a large 



part of the rain that falls is usually lost by running off the surface, and the 



little that does happen to soak in is rapidly dried out again by the sun and 



wind. 



Irrigating. 



Owing to the paucity and uncertainty of the rainfall, irrigation is essential 

 for the growth of apricots in the dry western country. Irrigation does not 

 mean an unlimited supply of water whenever it pleases the fancy of the grower 

 to turn it on, but a judicious supply of a moderate quantity of water at the 

 right time. The mere watering of the land is of little value by itself ; it is 

 from the combination of irrigation and cultivation that the best results are 

 obtained— too much water is often as bad as too little. Before irrigating 

 the land be sure that the surplus water has a get-away — that is to say, see 

 that the land has very good sub-drainage, as if this is deficient the water is 

 very apt to lodge round the roots of the trees and do more harm than good. 

 If there is no winter rainfall, then a thorough irrigation equal to a rainfall 

 of 2 to 3 inches is essential, and this irrigation should be given before the buds 

 burst or just when the sap begins to move, which is fully a month before the 

 buds burst. A good watering then will carry the trees on to the time the stones 

 are forming, when a second watering should be given ; this watering will 

 generally be sufficient to mature the crop, but if not, a third irrigation may 

 be given. After each irrigation the land should be cultivated as soon as 

 horses can be brought on to the land without any danger of their packing 

 the soil, as this cultivation will tend to prevent surface evaporation, and if 

 continued as described under the heading of " Cultivation," will retain the 

 moisture in the soil till the next watering is required. Irrigation is best 

 carried out by means of furrows, which are easily made with a furrowing 

 plough or cultivator, and these furrows should be broken up after each irriga- 

 tion. Have the furrows on each side of the row of trees, and, if the land is 

 good irrigating land, at about 2 to 3 feet from the trees on either side, as the 

 water will saturate the soil on each side of the furrow and thus cover he 

 whole of the land. If the water will not soak so far then make the furrows 

 nearer together. The number of furrows will depend on the soil, the 

 age of the trees, and the distance between the trees. Flooding must be 

 avoided . 



