THE MONTHLY BULLETIN 



CALIFORNIA STATE COMMISSION OF HORTICULTURE. 



DEVOTED TO HORTICULTURE IN ITS BROADEST SENSE, WITH SPECIAL 



REFERENCE TO PLANT DISEASES, INSECT PESTS, AND 



THEIR CONTROL. 



Sent free to all citizens of the State of California. Offered in exchange for bulletins 

 of the Federal Government and experiment stations, entomological and mycological 

 journals, agricultural and horticultural papers, botanical and other publications of a 

 similar nature. 



A. J. Cook, State Commissioner of Horticulture Censor 



E. J. VosLER, Secretary State Commission of Horticulture Editor 



ASSOCIATE EDITORS. 



Geo. p. Weldon Chief Deputy Commissioner 



Harut S. Smith Superintendent State Insectary 



Frederick Maskew Chief Deputy Quarantine Oflicer 



Entered as second class matter December 29, 1911, at the post ofHce at Sacramento, 

 California, under the act of July 16, 1S94. 



An Irrigation Suggestion One problem which is confronting 



citrus growers is the difficulty of properly distributing irrigation water 

 to the trees nearest the head flume, and those furthest from the same. 

 In some one hundred groves visited this summer during irrigation, 

 over 75 per cent were noted where the trees at the lower end of the 

 rows were either getting only a small portion of the amount of water 

 given those at the upper end, or else a very considerable amount of 

 water was being wasted as run-off. In several cases it was estimated 

 that the equivalent of one-half inch of rainfall for the acreage being 

 irrigated was lost in this way. 



The remedy for the above condition which appeals to us as being 

 the most practical and efficient, and vvhich has been tried by sufficient 

 growers to assure its possibilities, consists of a system of permanent 

 basins filled with mulch around the lower fcAv rows of treas. For this 

 purpose square basins covering nearly the entire ground should be 

 made. The outlines of these basins may be thrown up with any ordi- 

 nary ridger. This work should be supplemented somewhat by hand 

 labor, in order to level the floor of the basins so that water wilf spread 

 quite evenly over the entire surface. A permanent furrow may be 

 left between the basins in the direction of irrigation, from which the 

 water may be turned into the basins. Alfalfa hay, bean straw, or 

 stable manure are the best materials for this purpose. Two bales of 

 either of the former, or 20 feet of stable manure to the tree, should be 

 about right for the original application. This should be added to 

 from time to time, so that the entire ground in the basins remains 

 covered. 



Considerable attention is given at the present time to some system 

 of mulching the entire ground in citrus orchards. We are not in a 

 position as yet to say whether or not any such system is proper or 

 practicable for California conditions. There are a number of things, 



