182 One Thousand Questions in Agriculture 



growth on top as you can before the spring plowing. Never mind 

 about the swelling of the buds. The trees will not be affected in- 

 juriously by getting a good supply of winter water into the soil. 

 There might be some danger with trees which bloom late in the 

 spring, like citrus trees or olives, because by that time the ground 

 has become warm and the roots very active. At the blooming time 

 of deciduous trees less danger would threaten, because there is less 

 difference between the temperature of the ground and the water 

 which you were then applying from a running stream. If you irrigated 

 in furrows and, therefore, did not collect the water in mass, its 

 temperature would rise by contact with air, which would be another 

 reason for not apprehending trouble from it. 



How Much Water for Oranges? 



Hoiv much water would you consider absolutely necessary to carry 

 to full-bearing citrus trees on clay loam — that is, how many acres to a 

 miner's inch, figuring nine gallons per minute to the inch? 



It would, of course, depend upon the age of the trees, as old 

 bearing trees may require twice as much as young trees. We would 

 estimate for bearing trees, on such retentive soil, 30-acre inches per 

 year applied in the way best for the soil. 



Damping-off. 



My orange seed-bed stock has "damp-off." Some say "too much 

 water," "not enough water," "put on lime," etc. I use a medium amount 

 of water and more of my stock is affected than that of any other grower. 

 One man has kept his well soaked since planting, and only about six 

 plants were affected. Another has used but little zvater, keeping them 

 very dry; he has lost none. 



Damping-off is due to a fungus which attacks the tender growth 

 when there is too much surface moisture. It may be produced by 

 rather a small amount of water, providing the soil is heavy and the 

 water is not rapidly absorbed and distributed. On the other hand, 

 a lighter soil taking water more easily may grow plants without 

 damping-ofif, even though a great deal more water has been used 

 than on the heavier soil. Too much shade, which prevents the sun 

 from drying the surface soil, is also likely to produce damping-off, 

 therefore, one has to provide just the right amount of shade and the 

 right amount of ventilation through circulation of the air, etc. The 

 use of sand on the surface of a heavier soil may save plants from 

 damping-ofif, because the sand passes the water quickly and dries, 

 while a heavier surface soil would remain soggy. Lime may be of 

 advantage if not used in too great quantities because it disintegrates 

 the surface of the soil and helps to produce a dryness which is 

 desirable. Keeping the surface dry enough and yet providing the 

 seedlings with moisture for a free and satisfactory growth is a matter 

 which must be determined by experience and good judgment. 



