IRRIGATION FOR THE ORCHARD. 297 



into the soil would have an influence for the better. 

 Much good may be done in a dry season by irrigating 

 the trees every ten days after the blossoming period 

 and up to the ripening of the fruit. Once thereafter is 

 usually all the water they will need in the season. 

 Irrigations should generally be of quick duration, so 

 that the land shall not become soaked or water logged. 

 Great caution is advised in applying water to cherry 

 trees of Russian origin, and they aAually require but 

 slight moisture to grow and fruit at their best. This 

 from the iaS. that they come from the high and dry 

 steppes of Russia and naturally need but little water. 



The Orange. — The orange tree requires an abun- 

 dance of moisture, and its need of more water is indi- 

 cated by the curling of its leaves ; but excessive irri- 

 gation gives rise to diseased conditions, manifested by 

 gum, yellowing of the leaves, and other troubles. The 

 system of irrigation mostly practiced consists in run- 

 ning the water in finely divided streams through fur- 

 rows three feet apart between the rows of trees from a 

 head ditch, using about twenty inches at a time for 

 ten acres, and continuing the irrigation until the 

 ground is wet to a depth of three or four feet. The 

 irrigation should always be followed by cultivation as 

 soon as the conditions of the soil will permit, and cul- 

 tivation be continued at intervals for six or eight 

 weeks before another irrigation is given. 



The first year of planting very little irrigation is 

 required. In some orchards, after the trees are set out 

 a furrow is run alongside the row with a plow, then 

 water is run down, and a basin made around each 

 tree. This basin is allowed to fill, then it is dammed 



