284 IRRIGATION FARMING. 



growth under irrigation. Often a thorough stirring of 

 the soil is as good, if not better, than an irrigation. 

 Seasons also differ. During some the rainfall is suffi- 

 cient to carry trees well into the summer without irri- 

 gation. If summer and winter mulching is prac5liced, 

 less water is required, because a good mulch arrests 

 evaporation and preserves an even temperature around 

 the tree. In fa(5l, we have known orchards with a 

 good mulch and thorough cultivation to pass through 

 the season with but one watering. Occasionally the 

 soil is sufficiently moist to permit of this without a 

 mulch if the cultivation is good. But these instances 

 are, of course, the exception, and will not do for a 

 guide in any general sense. 



The writer cultivates his orchard mostly with a 

 double shovel five times a year, allowing no grass or 

 weeds to grow, as they greatly aid in harboring mice. 

 We do not grow corn or small grain in the orchard, as 

 these crops take the substance of the soil needed for 

 the trees, which are certainly of sufficient importance 

 to have the benefit of the entire ground. Melons 

 can be grown without detriment. Put no crop in the 

 orchard after the third year. Mulching to delay 

 blooming is not a success. The California plan is to 

 plow the orchard twice annually, the first time as early 

 as February, and again in April. Plow away from 

 the trees the first time and toward the trees the second 

 time. They keep up the cultivation almost constantly 

 throughout the summer, whether irrigation is given or 

 not. Some men use a chisel tooth cultivator, while 

 others use a gang plow. The duck-foot cultivator is 

 a very common implement and gives good satisf adlion , 



