300 IRRIGATION FARMING. 



the ones who scarcely ever have a crop, whether the 

 weather is hot or cold, or of the best condition. The 

 most successful growers plan to irrigate every six 

 weeks, running the water eight or ten hours in each 

 furrow. On heavy soil this would not be sufficient, 

 but on sandy loam will probably answer. Following 

 the irrigation, cultivate deeply and thoroughly. It is 

 quite satisfacflorily demonstrated in California that 

 puffy oranges are due to uneven or insufficient irriga- 

 tion. 



Lemons and Limes. — The highest and driest 

 part of the orchard is the most appropriate place upon 

 which to plant the lemon or the lime tree. It requires 

 a point almost free from frost, and if planted in any 

 other place will probabl}^ be a failure. After selec5ling 

 the proper location the soil should be well broken, so 

 that the roots can utilize the elements of the subsoil. 

 The trees should be planted about twenty-five feet 

 apart and to a depth of two and a half feet, according 

 to the size of the tree. Before planting be sure to cut 

 all particles of damaged roots away. Water should be 

 run around the tree a short time to settle the soil be- 

 fore the last few shovelfuls of earth are put in. The 

 time to plant varies according to the place, but March 

 and April are the months generally conceded by grow- 

 ers in the citrus districfts to be the best months. The 

 general ground plan of the lemon grove should be the 

 same as that described for the orange, and application 

 of water is made in much the same way. 



Nuts. — There is probably as much variation in the 

 irrigation of nut-bearing trees as in a regular orchard 

 plantation. In giving instrudlions for the irrigation 



