HIKIGATIOX FOR THE ORCHARD 20? 



a furrow is run alongside the row with a plow, then 

 water is run down, and a basin made around each tree. 

 This basin is allowed to fill, then it is dammed up and 

 the water run to the next. When the water has disap- 

 peared the ground is leveled to prevent the too rapid 

 evaporation of moisture. This system is continued until 

 the tree becomes at least four years old. After that the 

 orchard is checked off into squares, which are filled up. 

 In the same way a furrow is run down the rows on either 

 side, and the water running in this furrow will soak 

 through. But this practice is not so good as the one 

 that allows the water to soak in the squares, as when 

 the water runs down it will carry with it the necessary 

 fertilizing elements from the trees nearest the ditch. 

 Trees are irrigated during the season as late as October, 

 or even later, without any injury. Four or five wettings 

 of an orange grove in a season are usually sufficient. 



Lemons and Limes. The highest and driest 

 part of the orchard is the most appropriate place upon 

 which to plant the lemon or the lime tree. It requires 

 a point almost free from frost, and if planted in any 

 other place will probably be a failure. After selecting 

 the proper location the soil should be well broken, so 

 that the roots can utilize the elements of the subsoil. 

 The trees should be planted about twenty-five feet apart 

 and to a depth of two and a half feet, according to the 

 size of the tree. Before planting be sure to cut all par- 

 ticles of damaged roots away. Water should be run 

 around the tree a short time to settle the soil, before the 

 last fe\v shovelfuls of earth are put in. The time to 

 plant varies according to the place, but March and April 

 are the months generally conceded by growers in the 

 citrus districts to be the best months. The general 

 ground plan of the lemon grove should be the same as 

 that described for the orange, and application of water 

 is made in much the same way. 



