IRRIGATION OF ORCHARDS IN EASTERN 



OREGON 



By Hon. Judd GeeRj Comnv'issioner o/ the State Board of HorticnUure for the 



Fifth District. 



Nothing- accomplished by man in the line of agriculture seems more 

 wonderful and complete than an ideal orchard, growing and maturing fruit 

 of a high degree of excellence. No ambitious fruit-grower will be content 

 in the future to spend year after year of his life in an attempt to grow 

 perfect fruit without having the supply of moisture in a measure under 

 his control. Irrigation is a question of vital importance to tne Eastern 

 Oregon fruit-grower, however favored may be his location. 



For convenience I will divide orchards of our section into three classes. 

 In the first class I will place all of those orchards grown on the reclaimed 

 arid lands. These orchards could not exist for a season without the con- 

 stant attention of man. Thev must have moisture applied in a scientific 

 manner and the best of cultivation and care during the growing season. 

 The results thus obtained are wonderful to behold. 



In the second class I will place the many orchards here and there and 

 everywhere, which without the aid of applied moisture produce quantities 

 of fruit of little commercial value. In these orchards perhaps .50 per cent 

 of the crop can be sold as second or third-grade fruit. The growers know 

 they need an added supply of water and will make a reasonable effort to 

 obtain it, and after a little judiciously used at the proper season will raise 

 the quality of their fruit to first grade. 



In the third class I would place all of those most favored ones that do 

 not have to depend on irrigation to raise fruit. These, too, if wise, will 

 keep in reserve a supply of water to apply in an off year when prices are 

 sure to be high and returns correspondingly great. Every prolonged 

 drought bears testini'ony of the great value of the reserved water to this 

 class. At one time the advocates of non-irrigation attracted a great deal 

 of attention. They proved that the tillage of surface soil prevented evap- 

 oration to such an extent that fruit trees and vines could make great 

 growths and bear heavily with such moisture as was held in the soil from 

 rainfall of the wet season. It was a great surprise that trees could do for 

 several months without rain. While the non-irrigation theory is not prac- 

 ticable it served to prove to all how important it is that the moisture 

 applied be combined with a high degree of cultivation to produce the best 

 results. One fact has been proved beyond a doubt — a growing tree must 

 have moisture to produce fruit of high market value. When other means 

 fail, wise is the fruit-grower who has provided the means whereby he can 

 supply it by means of irrigation. 



Conditions of soil and climate vary to such an extent that no set rules 

 can be formed to guide the fruit-grower. The plan which has given the 

 best results in my orchard work I find ig shallow plowing in the spring, 

 followed by the use of some good cultivator which would thoroughly pul- 

 verize the soil. When the soil is in good condition it will seem pulverized 

 at the surface and porous. Do not irrigate until you perceive that cultiva- 

 tion has failed to furnish the needed moisture. This you should be able to 

 <lo before the tree suffers. Cultivation should be continued at intervals 

 of two weeks during the growing season. 



When the best work for moisture recejition and retention has been done. 



