IRRIGATION FOR THE ORCHARD. 293 



that a line is run diagonally across and a tree planted 

 alternately, forming a triangle. 



The prune needs all the strength of the soil. 

 There is none to be spared for weeds. It needs the 

 moisture and the vitalizing forces of the air about its 

 roots. Thorough cultivation and pulverization secures 

 this. The ground is deeply plowed in the spring, 

 except near the tree rows, where the work must be 

 more shallow. Harrowing follows plowing, and then 

 a cultivator or weed cutter is run through the orchard 

 three or four times in the course of the year. The 

 objedl is to leave a perfectly level and soft surface. 

 The prune bears heavily and thus requires an ample 

 supply of moisture. Prunes will make from forty to 

 sixty, instead of one hundred and twenty, to the 

 pound when liberally supplied with water. The best 

 results from applying water are those obtained during 

 the latter half of the fruit's development. 



The Peach is the popular crop with those who 

 are situated so fortunately as to grow it. A high, 

 sandy, well-underdrained soil is best for the peach, 

 and much ' * puttering around ' ' in the soil preparation 

 can be commended. lycave nothing undone in pre- 

 paring the planting ground. The trees should stand 

 fifteen to eighteen feet apart and should never be older 

 than one year from the bud. All branches should be 

 removed at time of planting, allowing nothing to stand 

 but the straight trunk, which should be cut back to 

 three feet. A northern exposure, or locations exposed 

 to cool breezes night and day in early spring, and 

 where the frost remains in the ground late in the 

 spring, are natural advantages. The soil should 



