104 CALIFORNIA VEGETABLES 



beyond its strength and dictates its terms to the grower by so 

 much as you gain of one by so much you shall lose of the other. 



It has, however, been shown in previous chapters on soils and 

 irrigation that California has natural soils and situations which are 

 quite comparable with the best conditions which intensive culture 

 can produce in the gardens of older lands and, this being true, it is 

 possible to draw upon their rich resources in the same way. It is 

 quite possible then to grow good vegetables between young fruit 

 trees and for a certain period it can be done without irreparable 

 injury to the trees, providing the local conditions warrant the prac- 

 tice. These conditions may be thus summarized : 



If the soil be of only average richness, the rainfall moderate 

 to meager in amount, and no facilities for irrigation, it would be 

 unfortunate to place any other burden on the land than the growth 

 of the trees. 



If the soil be not over rich and the rainfall heavy, but the 

 moisture easily lost by percolation or evaporation, owing to non- 

 retentiveness of the soil, and no irrigation facilities, give the trees 

 all the ground and the most perfect summer cultivation possible. 



If the land be rich, the rainfall abundant and moisture held 

 well in the soil, or if irrigation can be made use of, it is fair to think 

 of an inter-crop during the early years of the orchard, providing 

 the crop can be profitably disposed of, its nature is such that no 

 heavy draft is made on fertility, and the financial condition of the 

 planter requires immediate return from the land, if possible. 



It thus appears that an inter-crop is finally made to hinge upon 

 the grower's necessities, and the inference would be that if the 

 money is not needed immediately, it would be wiser to hold the 

 whole strength of the soil as an investment on which returns are to 

 be finally had in the increased growth and fuller fruiting of the 

 trees in later years. 



This views the matter from a commercial point of view and 

 therefore in its most aggravated form. If it is merely a question of 

 whether the home supply of vegetables shall be taken from the 

 young orchard or vineyard, it is less serious and deserves a stronger 

 affirmative. 



In growing vegetables between the rows of trees or vines, 

 much depends of course upon the time and the way it is done. If 

 water can be applied between the rows late in the summer in such 

 a way that it will not prevent the deciduous trees from going for- 



