58 CALIFORNIA FRUITS: HOW TO GROW THEM 



pear, spring has come for that locality. But whether one can plant 

 his nursery then or not will depend upon the character of the soil 

 and the condition of the rainfall for that season. This varies much, 

 from year to year. As a rule, however, in most parts where fruit is 

 grown at present in large quantities, the heavy cold rains will be 

 over by the first of February, and then nursery operations can com- 

 mence if the soil is in good condition. If not, the planter must wait 

 until the soil is dry enough to work nicely. There will, of course, 

 be heavy rains after the first of February ; but they will only necessi- 

 tate cultivation to loosen the soil, if the nursery ground is well 

 situated for drainage, and if it is not it should not be used for this 

 purpose. 



Supposing the ground has been deeply plowed and thoroughly 

 harrowed, as has been already described, the laying out of the 

 ground is the next operation. Everything should be done with a 

 view to the use of the horse in cultivation. The rows should be laid 

 out as straight as possible. Some use a plow furrow; some an ar- 

 rangement like a corn-marker, with two cultivator teeth set four feet 

 apart ; some stretch a line, to get the pits or root grafts as true to it 

 as possible, and some trust to the furrow for straightness. No rule 

 can be laid down for means to be employed ; the result must depend 

 upon the eye and skill of the individual. Some people can hardly 

 shoot a straight line with a gun. Each must do the best he can in 

 this respect. 



There is a difference in practice as to distance between the rows 

 in nursery. The usual distance is four feet, but others claim that it 

 is better to make the rows six feet apart, especially where no irriga- 

 tion is practised, as this gives the young trees more room, and if the 

 ground is kept thoroughly cultivated, as it should be, it gives the 

 roots a greater supply of moisture to draw upon. In growing a small 

 lot of trees, where there is plenty of land, it is, of course, desirable 

 to give them every advantage in the way of facilities for growth, but 

 on the other hand, an overgrown tree is not desirable. Thrift and 

 strength must be sought rather than size. 



At the ends of the rows spaces of about twelve feet should be left 

 as turning-ground for the horse when cultivating, and as a roadway. 

 The length of nursery rows depends upon the taste of the grower. 

 It is convenient to have alleys wide enough for a horse and cart at 

 intervals of three hundred feet, but in small nurseries the head-lands 

 would probably give all the access required. 



The depth for planting seeds and pits must be regulated by the 

 size of the seed and the character of the soil, as is always laid down 

 by the authorities, and in this State another condition must be made, 

 and that is the climate or weather conditions prevailing in the 

 locality. Where the rainfall is generally light and the soil loose, seed 

 must be planted deeper than where good spring showers are to be 

 expected. In heavy soils seeds must be planted shallower than in 

 light, even with the same rainfall. Suggestions of depth will be 

 found in connection with the discussion of particular fruits. 



During the spring months the cultivator must be used as often as 

 may be required to keep the weeds from getting too high, or the soil 



