24 Fruitgrowing under Irrigation 



supply of capital, to plant those varieties which 

 come into bearing soonest such as vines, apricots, 

 and peaches the first planting season, leaving the 

 slower bearing varieties oranges, pears, and 

 prunes for the second year. By this means his 

 land will yield him some return while the other 

 trees are coming into bearing. 



LUCERNE. 



As it is necessary to keep the orchard well 

 worked and cultivated, the fruitgrower must be 

 supplied with sufficient horse-power to do this work 

 satisfactorily, and the problem of feed, therefore, is 

 an important one. As lucerne has proved itself to 

 be the best of all fodders grown under irrigation, 

 the fruitgrower should, right from the beginning, 

 set apart as a lucerne patch at least one acre for 

 each horse he intends to keep, which should not be 

 under two. 



For the successful growing of this fodder the land 

 should be graded into level checks, so that it can 

 be flooded with an even sheet of water. The best 

 place for a lucerne patch is on the lowest part of the 

 holding, where it can catch all the overflow water 

 from the rest of the land. Owing to the great 

 amount of water that is required for their successful 

 culture, vegetables can also with advantage be 

 grown in level plots graded even, like a lucerne bed, 

 so that plenty of water can be poured into the land ; 

 and to avoid danger from seepage, these plots, like 

 those for lucerne, are best situated on the lowest 

 part of the holding. With two acres of lucerne, and 

 with a little hay that can be grown on his dry land, 

 the fruitgrower should have sufficient feed to keep 

 a couple of horses. 



