68 CALIFORNIA FRUITS: HOW TO GROW THEM 



covered trench, it should be left open and graded so that a team can cross 

 it, and for fifteen feet on each side sow to red-top. In this way the land 

 can be utilized that would be worthless for trees, and the red-top, that 

 can be grown at a profit, will take the place of unsightly weeds, that would 

 otherwise grow at the point that can not be cultivated. 



To distribute the work more evenly through the first year buildings 

 can be erected, a well dug, and the trenching done in the dry season, while 

 all the grubbing, leveling, plowing and planting must be done the follow- 

 ing season, as soon as the ground is sufficiently moistened. All depres- 

 sions where water would stand should be filled, and all flat places should 

 be graded until water will readily flow off, and not be retained so near the 

 surface of the ground as to cause it to become soured. This leveling can 

 be best done by one man and a pair of horses. Plow the adjacent elevated 

 land and scrape into the places to be filled. The land is now ready for 

 plowing and should be done thoroughly, subsoiling to as great a depth as 

 the removal of the stumps will allow. It is now well to go over the 

 ground again with the scraper and level all the most elevated points so 

 they can be readily reached by water in irrigating. Then cross-plow as 

 deeply as possible without again subsoiling, harrow and drag, and the 

 ground will be ready to plant. 



Mr. Butler writes with reference to the foot-hills of the Sierra 

 Nevada, where irrigation must be practised. Where irrigation is 

 not used, leveling, or rather grading, may be unnecessary, but it is 

 often quite desirable that there may be no depressions to retain 

 surplus water. The life of the trees and ease of cultivation may 

 demand this unless the soil should be light and deep enough to 

 allow free drainage. 



