RESULTS OF OVER-IRRIGATION J^ 



Of course it is not commended as a rule of practice that the 

 grower wait until the tree shows signs of distress before applying 

 water. This is a very bad plan of proceeding, but the visible 

 language of the tree is mentioned as indicating that the tree needs 

 help, either at regular intervals or occasionally, and after such a 

 warning the grower should be able to tell by examination of the 

 soil and by study of the local rainfall record when this need will 

 occur, and apply his water in advance of the need. 



Recent experience has enabled fruit growers in all parts of 

 California to arrive at a truer conception of the relation of irri- 

 gation to the growth of fruits. Many who long scouted the sug- 

 gestion that irrigation was necessary for deciduous fruit trees 

 in their districts, have found that water, in addition to the rainfall, 

 was very profitable, either to enable large,- bearing trees to produce 

 larger fruit, or to maintain in full vigor their later summer growth 

 and to make strong fruit buds, which insure the following year's 

 production. It has also been widely demonstrated that a tree 

 which is adequately supplied with water, no matter whether it be 

 directly from the clouds or through the irrigating stream, yields 

 fruit of better size, aroma, flavor and carrying quality than a tree 

 which, from any cause, falls even a little short of an adequate 

 supply. It is clear then that neither irrigation nor non-irrigation 

 are in themselves principles, but are merely methods to be em- 

 ployed when conditions demand the one or the other. 



Several claims against irrigated products may be stated and 

 opposed in this way: 



(1) The claim that nursery trees grown by irrigation are, 

 from that mere fact, inferior is based upon experience in trans- 

 planting trees unduly forced by overirrigation. Immense growth 

 from the bud in a single season of an inch and a half in diameter 

 and ten feet in height tempted buyers who wanted to get as much 

 as possible for their money. The result of setting out such trees 

 created a strong prejudice against irrigated nursery stock. It 

 is now clearly seen that moderate, thrifty growth is the ideal in 

 a young tree, and if the soil does not hold rainfall enough to 

 secure this, water enough to secure it must be applied. 



(2) The claim that irrigated fruit lacks aroma and flavor is 

 based upon observation of monstrous, insipid fruit forced into 

 such abnormal character by excessive irrigation. Growers who 

 concluded therefrom that irrigated fruit was necessarily inferior, 

 denied water to their trees and gathered small, tough, unmarketable 

 fruit, because there was not enough rainfall to enable the trees to 

 perform their proper function. As it is now conceded that the 

 highest quality, including the delicate aromas and flavors, can 

 be secured only by adequate moisture, it matters not how long 

 since it fell from the clouds nor by what route it reaches the 

 roots of the trees. 



