THE ORCHARD. 37 



least, and vice versa. Plant the cherry trees, for example, where they 

 will not be subjected to too much irrigation. Next to them the pears and 

 peaches. Apples will need, on an average, watering once every week or 

 ten days the first season ; and the second, perhaps every two or three 

 weeks. Most varieties of plums rejoice in abundant moisture, and hence 

 should be freely watered. 



It is a good plan to go over the ground after the soil has settled from 

 the effects of the irrigation, before it has dried much, and fill in around 

 the trees all depressions made by the water with fine, dry earth. This 

 will tend to prevent the soil from baking, as well as to arrest evaporation. 

 A slight, basin-like depression should be left around the tree, to assist in 

 retaining the moisture that falls from the clouds. 



The established orchard will require irrigation according to the soil, 

 location, cultivation and treatment it receives. For this reason each 

 orchardist must be his own judge to a great extent. It is safe to say 

 however, that from one to three thorough applications of water each sea- 

 son will be ample on an average. The soil should at all times be kept 

 mellow and free from weeds in young orchards. 



Garden root crops, potatoes and the less rank growing varieties of 

 sweet corn, may be cultivated to advantage for a few seasons, but should 

 not be planted too near the trees. Never sow grain crops in the orchard, 

 they not only exhaust the fertility of the soil, robbing it of the elements 

 of plant food needed to sustain the trees, but they are enormous consum- 

 ers of moisture. It is a rule, with rare exceptions, now recognized by 

 leading cultivators everywhere, that water should be witheld from the- 

 orchard after the season's growth has been practically made, (which in 

 Colorado is by September 1st) to allow this growth to fully mature. But 

 the last thing before the ground freezes, to give a copious irrigation, in 

 order to place the trees in good form for our usually open winters and 

 uniformly dry atmosphere. This precaution is an important one. as it 

 enables fruit stock to resist the drying-out process so fatal to trees every- 

 where. 



MULCHING. 



It is always safe to give the surface, for three or four feet around the 

 young tree, a dressing of coarse litter, cut straw or partly decomposed 

 manure, and this should by all means be done if the soil is of a heavy, 

 coarse texture and not in good tilth. Green, fresh manure, howeve^ is 



