132 



CALIFORNIA FRUITS: HOW TO GROW THEM 



face layer of the soil moister, the lower layers are invariably made 

 drier, and it is in these lower layers, to a depth of several feet, that 

 the tree seeks its sustenance. The young tree should be shaded by 

 its own foliage and protected from sunburn to the bark by white- 

 washing, as has been described in the chapters on planting and prun- 

 ing, and not by a growing plant. ^ 



GROWING CROPS BETWEEN TREES AND VINES 



The possible advantage of a cover growth of clover in regions of 

 high heat and ample moisture has been noted at the opening of this 

 chapter. The rule, however, must be to grow nothing whatever be- 

 tween the trees if you desire the full success of the latter. As with 

 all rules, this one may admit of exceptions. 



Inter-cultures in orchard or vineyard may be allowed under 

 certain conditions of the soil and the purse of the grower. If the 

 soil is deep and moist and rich, the cost of planting and cultivation, 

 and sometimes more, may be made by growing a crop among your 

 trees. Of course, if irrigation is available, much more can be done 

 in this direction than if dependent upon natural supplies of water. 



There is much difference as to crops in amount of injury they may 

 do to the trees. Growing alfalfa, without irrigation, has been known 

 to kill out an orchard, and yet alfalfa growing in an orchard under 

 certain conditions may be a great advantage in some ways, as de- 

 scribed in the next chapter. Grain is less dangerous, but still is 

 objectionable, both because of exhaustion of soil and moisture, and 

 because of danger to trees from heat deflected from straw and 

 stubble. The crops least injurious, because of their requirements, 

 and because the constant cultivation of them checks the loss of mois- 

 ture by evaporation, are corn, beans, potatoes, beets, carrots, etc., 

 squashes, and other members of the melon family, onions, and other 

 shallow-rooting vegetables. In the growth of these, however, there 

 should be a width of several feet of well-cultivated soil on all sides 

 of the tree, unoccupied. 



In soils exceptionally rich and deep, and where rainfall is abun- 

 dant, inter-cultures of small fruits or vegetables may be carried on 

 for a long series of years with profit both from the trees and the 

 inter-culture. In similar deep, rich soils, with irrigation, immense 

 crops of small fruits and vegetables, even as high as twelve to 

 twenty-four tons of tomatoes per acre, have been taken from between 

 orchard rows, and one hundred and fifty sacks of onions per acre 

 from between the rows of a strawberry plantation. In Ventura 

 county some fields of lima beans, in favorable years, have paid over 

 $70 per acre grown between young trees. In other parts of the 

 State considerable amounts of peas for sale to canners ale grown 

 between the rows in young orchards. This crop is especially desir- 

 able when good sale is assured, because the plant is hardy and can 

 make a good part of its growth during the rainy season and the 

 ground be cleaned up and well cultivated early in the summer. As 

 beans and peas are legumes, their roots enrich the soil, as will be 

 noted in the chapter on fertilization. 



