IRRIGATION FOR THE ORCHARD. 30I 



of such trees we have no great amount of material or 

 precedence upon which to work, but must depend on 

 judgment gained by the natural habits of the trees 

 themselves. The chestnut, for instance, growing natu- 

 rally on the highest and driest ridges of the Appalach- 

 ian range, will not require such damp situations and 

 moist feet as the American butternut, the habitat of 

 which is along the sides of streams in the mountains. 

 The most valuable nut tree in America to-day is no 

 doubt the black walnut. It must have deep, rich soil, 

 twelve or fifteen feet to standing water, in a suitable 

 location and with abundance of water for irrigation. 

 The English walnut does not endure too hot or too 

 cold weather. The trees must not be nearer than fifty 

 feet each way and no crops must be raised on the land 

 while the trees are growing. When they are grown 

 they will need all that the richest soil can supply. In 

 full bearing there should be 200 pounds of nuts to the 

 tree, and they must be irrigated when filling or they 

 will not yield well. The almond is as delicate as the 

 peach, and requires quite as .skilful irrigation. Care 

 should be used to keep the water from the trunks of 

 the trees. To guard against this it is advisable to 

 ridge the soil around the young trees the first year, 

 running the water a foot or so distant, the second year 

 nearly the same, and the third year at least two feet 

 from the trunk. Irrigation should not be too copious 

 and water must not be allowed to pond near the trees. 

 More trees are lost from this negligence than from all 

 other causes, especially in the case of clay soils. 

 Pecan culture is becoming quite an industry in Texas 

 and other portions of the southwest. The trees do 



