298 IRRIGATION FARMING. 



Up and the water run to the next. When the water 

 has disappeared the ground is leveled to prevent the 

 too rapid evaporation of moisture. This system is con- 

 tinued until* the tree becomes at least four years old. 

 After that the orchard is checked off into squares, 

 which are filled up. In the same way a furrow is run 

 down the rows on either side, and the water running 

 in this furrow will soak through. But this practice is 

 not so good as the one that allows the water to soak 

 in the squares, as when the water runs down it will 

 carry with it the necessary fertilizing elements from 

 the trees nearest the ditch. Trees are irrigated during 

 the season as late as Ocftober, or even later, without 

 any injury. Four or five wettings of an orange grove 

 in a season are usually sufficient. 



There are seasons when oranges drop badly, and 

 some growers ascribe it entirely to hot winds. It 

 is doubtless true that extremely hot weather finds the 

 trees partially dormant, and the damage is wrought on 

 the young, tender oranges before sap starts to flowing 

 freely. The most universal remedy recommended is 

 water, and in so far as it is used to put the tree in good 

 condition, is doubtless efFe(5live, although fertilization 

 of the soil may be the thing most needed. The water 

 should be applied two or three weeks prior to the hot 

 or cold weather, or, in other words, the trees should at 

 all times be kept in strong growing condition. To 

 accomplish this, water in abundance down deep in the 

 ground is necessary. Superficial surface irrigating is 

 of but little avail. Those irrigators who apply water 

 in small quantities every week or two, merely running 

 the rill in the furrow till it reaches the lower end, are 



