CHAPTER XXXV. 

 THE IRRIGATION OF CITRUS GROVES. 



It is useless to attempt the culture of citrus fruits 

 where an adequate supply of water cannot be secured, 

 either naturally as rainfall, or artificially, by irrigation. 

 If the trees do not receive a sufficient amount of water, 

 the results will not be satisfactory. When an inadequate 

 quantity, only, is available, the trees do not make a nor- 

 mal growth, the leaves curl and drop, the young fruit 

 falls off and such as is brought to maturity is deficient 

 in juice and inferior in quality. Under such conditions, 

 the trees become fit subjects for the attacks of fungous 

 parasites and scale insects. The combination of unthrifti- 

 uess due to the lack of water and the inroads of differ- 

 ent enemies, soon brings about the death of the trees or 

 the abandonment of the grove by the owner. 



Hence, in selecting a site for a grove it is well to be 

 assured that a sufficient amount of water will always be 

 available. It should be borne in mind that citrus trees 

 require more w^ater than deciduous trees of equal size 

 and age. Transpiration is greatly reduced during the 

 winter season or dormant period in such trees as peaches, 

 plums and pears. They shed their leaves in autumn and, 

 in consequence, the transpiration area is greatly lessened. 

 On the other hand, the leaf area of citrus trees is the 

 same winter and summer alike and a like amount of water 

 is transpired in winter as in summer, where the climatic 

 conditions are favorable to growth. As a matter of fact, 

 citrus trees are more or less active all the time. 



