IRRIGATION FOR THE ORCHARD. 283 



of the arid west trees should be set from two to four 

 inches lower than they stood in the nursery. While 

 one man holds the tree in place and spreads out the 

 roots, another shovels in the fine top-soil until the roots 

 are covered. This is firmed with the foot and more 

 earth thrown in until a mound is formed around the 

 tree. When two or three trees have been set a small 

 stream of water is turned in through a lath funnel in 

 the head ditch. In this way the water runs slowly 

 down the furrow, finds its way around both sides of 

 the mound and soaks thoroughly the earth in which 

 the roots are embedded. In a few days the ground on 

 each side will be dry enough to work, when a furrow 

 should be thrown inward from each side, filling the 

 large furrow, forming a mulch which will hold moisture 

 a long time and leaving a small furrow on each side for 

 after irrigation. The best implement for this is a six- 

 inch Diamond plow and one horse, but if such a plow 

 is not at hand the ground can be cultivated until level 

 with a double shovel or other cultivator. Then fur- 

 rows may be opened on each side just before the next 

 irrigation. 



Cultivation. — The tendency of many inexperienced 

 orchardists is to irrigate too frequently and too much 

 at times when water is plentiful, and to endeavor to 

 make this take the place of cultivation. This is a 

 pradlice Very destrudlive to the growth of all kinds of 

 fruit trees, especially in heavy soils. The tendency of 

 the soil after each irrigation is to sun-bake, and thus 

 prevent a free circulation of air through it. It is for 

 this reason that cultivation almost immediately after 

 the water is drawn off is requisite to successful orchard 



