204 Fruit-growing in Arid Regions 



or even prevent the development of fruit-buds for the en- 

 suing year. The formation of fruit-buds evidently goes 

 forward more rapidly in periods of slow growth. In other 

 words, rapid growth apparently depletes the supply of 

 elaborated plant-food to such an extent that it interferes 

 with the development of fruit-buds, just as a heavy crop 

 of fruit may prevent fruit-bud formation. The bearing 

 fruit tree should make very little growth after the middle 

 of July, and if the orchardist wishes to promote f ruitfulness, 

 he should not over-irrigate. Of course the present crop 

 of fruit cannot be sacrificed in order to insure a crop of 

 fruit-buds for the following year, but rampant growth is 

 not essential to the proper development of the fruit. In 

 withholding water with the idea of promoting fruitful- 

 ness, one must avoid letting the ground dry to the extent 

 that it will hasten the ripening of the fruit. Fruit checked 

 in its growth by dearth of water seldom responds to later 

 irrigation. 



Excessive late irrigation may also retard coloring. 

 Color naturally comes with maturity, and the injudicious 

 use of water may prolong the growing season until the fruit 

 has no time in which to color. Every effort should be 

 made to get the fruit up to size early in the growing season, 

 and then promote coloring by withholding water. 



Growth forced by late irrigation is immature and is sub- 

 ject to winterkilling. The growth of young orchards, 

 especially, must be checked by' withholding water. The 

 date of the last irrigation will vary with different soils, but 

 it is safe to say that few young peach orchards should be 

 watered after the first of August, and young apple or 

 pear trees seldom later than the middle of August. On 



