20 Fruit-growing in Arid Regions 



Very rarely what are known locally as cement soils 

 are found. For some reason, which is not known to the 

 writers, such soils cannot be made to take enough water, 

 by ordinary methods, to support trees and keep them in 

 a vigorous condition. In a few instances orchards planted 

 on this kind of soil have been relieved by digging several 

 holes around each tree. A post-hole digger was used for 

 the purpose, and the holes were filled with coarse manure. 

 Water was then turned on, and the results indicate that 

 the ground became well moistened. 



Sinking Land 



Land that settles when water is applied is known as 

 sinking land. Some of the highest-priced peach orchards 

 are located on such areas. To all outward appearances 

 this land does not differ from that found in many other 

 places. No hint as to this peculiar characteristic is gained 

 from the general looks of it; but when irrigation is at- 

 tempted, irregular patches, here and there, settle four or 

 more feet, and in some cases cracks occur that may extend 

 into the ground to a depth of fifteen feet. Such an oc- 

 currence is surely alarming, to say the least, to the 

 uninitiated. 



In one locality, where there is a small tract of such land, 

 the owner attempted to establish an orchard, and planted 

 the trees before the land had been irrigated. At the first 

 application of water, spots of land here and there began to 

 sink, and deep cracks were formed. Of course it was im- 

 possible to save the trees with the land in such condition, 

 and the owner was obliged to give up. This type of land 

 may usually be " settled " in one season if water is persist- 



