310 Peaeh-Growing j 



condition they "take" water very slowly. In such soils, I 



however, the furrows, when that system is being used, may j 



be farther apart than in sandy soils, since water moves ! 



laterally in them with comparative freedom. However, j 



the furrows should be fairly deep. In light soils the freest j 

 movement of the water is downw^ard, hence the necessity 

 for placing the furrows relatively near together, else a section 



of soil between the furrows will remain dry to a considerable j 

 depth and thus seriously restrict the functioning of the roots 

 within those sections. 



The particular time or period, therefore, when the water 

 should be applied becomes a matter of judgment on the part 

 of the peach-grower, based on his knowledge and interpre- 

 tation of soil conditions. Paddock and Whipple ^ call at- ' 

 tention to a prevailing opinion among fruit-growers, that , 

 orchards should not be irrigated when in bloom. In dis- . 

 cussing this and other related points these authors state '. 

 that while proof is lacking that irrigating during the blossom- I 

 ing period actually interferes with the setting of fruit, there I 

 is little occasion to irrigate until after the fruit has formed i 

 if the trees go into the winter with a good supply of moisture I 

 in the soil. j 



If the soil is too moist during midsummer and later, i 



fruit-buds may not form well, as the tendency of the trees i 

 under these conditions is to make excessive wood growth 



at the expense of fruit-bud formation; besides, the fruit of \ 



the current crop may not color well. Also, if the trees are : 



kept growing rapidly late in the season by excessive moisture , 



in the soil, the wood wdll not ripen well and winter injury is ! 



likely to result. On the other hand, trees that have become ! 



rather dry during the late summer and early fall should be ; 



1 *' Fruit Growing in Arid Regions." 



