13 



From recent experiences in those parts of the Province where the snow- 

 fall is heavy, it has heen found that when a thaw sets in the lower branches 

 are borne down by the weight of snow, and sometimes break down or are 

 injured. In such cases the advice given above should be modified to suit 

 the peculiar conditions. Either start the first branch higher up or resort to 

 supports for the protection of the lower limbs. 



IRRIGATION 



Is treated of in Bulletin No. 12, as follows : 



The importance of applying moisture artificially in those parts of the 

 country where the precipitation is insufficient cannot be over-estimated. 

 Albeit there is as great danger attending an over-supply of water as there is 

 of an insufficiency. Water should never be applied after the fruit has 

 attained its full size, or there will be danger of injury to the fruit, impairing 

 its keeping qualities so materially as to. render it unfit for transportation. 

 Another evil effect of irrigation after the wood has attained its maturity is 

 the promoting of a second growth, so that the wood is in an unripe state 

 when the winter comes on, often causing serious injury, or even the death of 

 the tree; or in case of an early snow-storm, the tree not having shed its 

 leaves, the breaking down of the limbs, or splitting the tree. As a matter 

 of fact, a very small quantity of water, judiciously applied, succeeded by 

 cultivation, is far better than an over-supply beware of using too much 

 water; cultivation is often all that is necessary, and when water is applied, 

 use it intelligently. 



This is what Mr. F. H. Newell, Hydraulic Engineer and Chief of the 

 Division of Hydrography of the United States Geological Survey Depart- 

 ment, says in " Irrigation in the United States," published in February: 



" In the humid regions rainfall is usually from 3 to 4 inches per month 

 during the crop season. In the arid region, where the sunlight is more 

 continuous and the evaporation greater, there should be, for the ordinary 

 crops at least, enough water during the growing season to cover the ground 

 from 4 to 6 inches in depth each month. Carefully tilled orchards have been 

 maintained on far less. In Arizona, where the crop season is longest, being 

 practically continuous throughout the year, twice as much water is needed 

 as in Montana, where the crop season is short and the evaporation is less." 



I do not know that there is much more to be added, except to reiterate 

 the advice there given as to the danger of the excessive and needless use of 

 water. Those people in the dry belt who have been fortunate enough to 

 record water-rights securing them an ample supply, should not, for that 

 reason, use more on their orchards than actual necessity demands. More 

 harm has resulted from an excessive use of water than from an insufficiency. 

 Careful cultivation and tillage go a long way towards the conservation of 

 moisture in the soil. 



Recent experiments in the United States have resulted in demonstrat- 

 ing that winter irrigation answers all purposes, and for many reasons is con- 

 sidered preferable to summer irrigation. One of the reasons adduced is that 

 by following this course the natural addition of moisture to the soil is 

 imitated. Another reason in favour of the method is the fact that water 



