PEAR GROWING IN CALIFORNIA. 



321 



CHAPTER IX. 



IRRIGATION, CULTIVATION, COVER CROPS, FERTILIZERS, 



INTERCROPS. 



In an arid summer climate siieh as that of California irrigation is 

 desirable in every case where conditions are not such that there is a 

 natural subirrigation. The pear orchards of the Sacramento River 

 section, which at one time were not watered because it was not thought 

 necessary, are practically^ all irrigated now, with splendid results. 

 Without irrigation these orchards A\dll produce, but neither the trees 

 nor the pears will attain the size and quality that they do with irriga- 

 tion. Fig. 128 shows the general method of pumping the water from 

 the Sacramento River for irrigation of pears. This picture was taken 

 on the E. A. Gammon place at Hood. Mr. Gammon, who at one time 



Fig. 128. 



Centrifugal pump and discharge pipe which carries water from the 

 Sacramento River over a levee into a pear orchard. 



grew pears without irrigation, can now testify to its value, and a great 

 increase in crops because of the installation of a pump and irrigation 

 system. 



METHODS. 

 The water is carried to the orchards in gravity canals, or raised from 

 the river, or wells, by means of centrifugal pumps operated by electric 

 motors. Either the furrow or basin method of irrigation is used. The 

 first method requires a series of parallel ditches, generally al)()ut foui-, 

 between two tree rows. These can be made with a plow, cultivator or 

 small ditching tool. Small heads of water run in such ditches for about 



