Irrigation 47 



only be light. The heaviest waterings should be 

 made during the hottest, months, when the evapora- 

 tion both through the foliage of the plants and from 

 out of the ground is at its greatest; but they should 

 also vary according to the different classes of fruit. 

 Thus, for the filling out of their fruit, apricots 

 should receive their heaviest -watering at the end of 

 November; mid-season peaches in mid-December; 

 currants and sultanas during December and Janu- 

 ary. Citrus should receive good waterings during 

 the summer months, and are benefited by an April 

 irrigation in the filling out of their fruit. 



Perhaps some indication of how water may be 

 applied with good results during a dry summer may 

 be obtained from the perusal of the figures relating 

 to the amount of water given to the vines before 

 referred to during the 1915-16 season, which were : 

 September, 3 inches ; November, 3J inches ; Decem- 

 ber, 6^ inches ; February, 5 inches ; making a total 

 of 18 inches for the season. 



After the crop has been harvested, little, if any, 

 water should be applied, as heavy waterings at this 

 period force out late sappy growth which, being 

 useless as fruit wood, has to be removed at the 

 winter pruning. Apricots and mid-season peaches, 

 which ripen their fruit during January, may receive 

 a moderate 'watering after their fruit is off, as the 

 time from January to the following August is too 

 long a period to be without water during a dry 

 summer. 



