IRRIGATION FOR THE ORCHARD. 201 



sickly, and the leaves will take on a yellow, deadly color. 

 The trees should be pruned so as to insure good crops 

 and fine specimens. The irrigation furrows should be 

 opened so as to give a downward tendency to the roots. 

 The closest cultivation is to be given and the greater 

 quantity of water for a season should be applied after 

 the fruit is half grown. The quince may be planted in 

 the apple orchard and irrigated in the same way. A 

 pound or two of common salt should be scattered around 

 I'ac-li tree in the spring. 



Plum. This crop is best grown on heavy loam soil 

 or heavy clayish sandy soil, but will generally get along 

 on any kind of soil. Close planting of different varieties 

 together is advisable on account of the necessity of com- 

 plete pollen ization. Native American kinds make the 

 best stock to bud upon. The plum may well succeed 

 the apple for position in an orchard, as it requires as 

 much water, applied in virtually the same way. The 

 wild sorts may often be found growing along perennial 

 streams, with roots constantly in the moisture, and these 

 trees are always reliable for bearing year after year. An 

 even tenure of moisture throughout the growing season 

 would seem to be a normal condition for success with 

 plums. 



Prunes are becoming a great crop in many of the 

 irrigated portions of Western America, and these locali- 

 ties will some day produce a sufficiency of dried fruit to 

 drive the foreign article almost entirely out of the mar- 

 ket. The best California experience is to begin the 

 preparation of the soil for a prune orchard some time 

 previous to planting. It is desirable to thoroughly and 

 deeply plow in the fall, exposing the surface to the air 

 during the winter. Wherever there is hardpan it should 

 be well broken up. In many instances the soil is ferti- 

 lized, and in all cases it is well stirred and evenly har- 

 rowed. The proper preparation of the soil is a matter 



