IRRIGATION FARMING. 



of much care and study. The square system is generally 

 preferred in planting, the object being to economize the 

 ground as much as possible, at the same time giving 

 proper consideration to the facility of future care and 

 having an eye to the appearance of the orchard. In the 

 sijuare system the land is laid off in lines crossing each 

 other, trees being planted at each crossing. They are 

 placed twenty feet apart, so that 108 trees are included 

 in an acre. By the quincunx system, which is similar 

 to the square except that the rows are doubled and a 

 tree planted in the center of each square, 199 trees to 

 the acre are provided for, but this is generally with a 

 yiew to the future removal of the center trees. By the 

 hexagonal system six trees form a hexagon and enclose 

 a seventh, 126 being planted to each acre. The trian- 

 gular system is similar to the square except that a line 

 is run diagonally across and a tree planted alternately, 

 forming a triangle. 



The prune needs ail the strength of the soil. There 

 is none to be spared for weeds. It needs the moisture 

 and the vitalizing forces of the air about its roots. 

 Thorough cultivation and pulverization secures this. 

 The ground is deeply plowed in the spring, except near 

 the tree rows, where the work must be more shallow. 

 Harrowing follows plowing, and then a cultivator or 

 weed cutter is run through the orchard three or four 

 times in the course of the year. The object is to leave 

 a perfectly level and soft surface. The prune bears lu-av- 

 ily and thus requires an ample supply of moisture. 

 Prunes will make from forty to sixty, instead of one hun- 

 dred and twenty, to the pound when liberally supplied 

 with water. The best results from applying water are 

 those obtained during the latter half of the fruit's 

 development. 



The Peach is the popular crnj) with those who 

 are situated so fortunately as to grow it. A high, sandy, 



