220 



Journal of Agriculture, Victoria. 



[lo April, 191 i. 



to correct it. After watering, and as soon as the land will bear a horse, 

 close the furrows in with an orchard cultivator, and stir the whole surface 

 of the orchard lightly, assuming it to be free of weeds and trash. Use the 

 hoe freely round the trees, but not severely, especially with citrus trees, 

 Ihe roots of which are close to the surface. Be careful when watering not 

 to allow water to come into contact with the stems of the trees ; if the soil 

 around them is kept well stirred, the water from the furrows will soak 

 all through the roots. Contact with the stem is a frequent cause of 

 disease and death. 



As the trees grow larger, the furrows are kept further away in order 



to avoid injuring roots and growing limbs witli the implements and 



horses. The number of irrigations during the growing period depends 



very much on the character of the season, but intervals of from four to six 



weeks may be taken as a general average. As one 



— — ."^^^ " ^ 1 r °--- becomes familiar with the growth and habit of 



! • I • *<-^Trve trees, he will be able to tell at a glance by their 

 ' ' appearance whether or not water is required, and 



69. WATERING TREES. ^^^\^q^~^ g^ch indications are present no time should 

 be lost. It is essential in setting out an orchard that the various kinds 

 of trees be kept separate; some reqtire water more frequently than and 

 at different periods to others, and market requirements are more easily 

 met. Should the soil be at all stiff it will take some time for water to 

 seep from furrow to furrow, a condition which should be aimed at and 

 which is a good indication of effective watering. To assist in attaining 

 that condition it is a good plan to connect the furrows transversely at the 

 tree, as shown by dotted lines in No. 69. This may be done with a hoe 

 or shovel, or transverse furrows may be ploughed out before ploughing 

 irrigating furrows. 



There is some difference of opinion amongst orchardists as to whether 

 the furrows should be ploughed to or from the tree ; I almost invariably 

 practice the latter. Should the soil of an orchard 

 be very dry it is a good plan to introduce extra 

 furrows between the irrigating furrows as in No. 



70. It must be borne in mind that, unless thorough 

 cultivation follows immediately upon a watering, 

 the latter might almost as well have been let 

 alone. Constant and thorough cultivation will 

 result in less irrigation being required, a considera- 

 tion that will appeal to those who have to pay for 

 sach separate watering, while at the same time 

 the trees will be kept in a far better condition of 

 growth, in which state they are better able to 

 resist disease. Where an orchard is of such length that furrows are 

 required to carry water long distances, those trees nearest the head ditch 

 will be over-soaked, while tho.se at the further end may go short. It is 

 a good plan to introduce secondary head- ditches, which may be tem- 

 porary or permanent, and it will be found that watering is expedited and 

 is more effective. 



The following plan (No. 71) will give a general idea of the proposal; 

 modifications to suit individual conditions will soon suggest themselves. 



Dots represent trees, furrows for irrigation being shown on either 

 side of them. There are three head ditches deriving their water from a 

 supply ditch which must be fitted at A, B and C with .some kind of 



Heoc/ Difch 



Vf. 



t 



70. FURROW IRRKIATION. 

 EXTRA FURROWS. 



