CALIFORNIA FRUITS: HOW TO GROW THEM 



summer, and, therefore, give a number of irrigations in winter. 

 There is, of course, much less danger of injury by water to decid- 

 uous growths in winter, because they are dormant, though an eye 

 should be kept on drainage for excessive irrigation as for excessive 

 rainfall. The grape and the pear are known to endure long sub- 

 mergence, but some other fruits are sensitive about it. 



Summer Irrigation. When this shall begin and when end are 

 to be locally determined. In some places even the earliest fruits 

 can not reach satisfactory size and quality without irrigation. In 

 others rainfall with winter irrigation will suffice for proper devel- 

 opment of early fruits, but not for late. In both cases the fruit 

 may be satisfactory, but the tree unable to hold its leaf vigor until 

 the work of the growing season is properly completed. It is then 

 apparent that local practice must vary in order to reach the uni- 

 versal fact, and that is that all through its active season the tree 

 must have constant and adequate moisture supply. Many evils in 

 lack of bearing, in dying-back, in unseasonable activity and the 

 like are due to inadequate, intermittent and, in some cases, to exces- 

 sive moisture in the soil. 



Cultivation and Irrigation. Although the relations of irrigation 

 and cultivation have been freely discussed, it must be remarked 

 in this connection that with such an extension of irrigation practice 

 as is now realized, there is danger that those who have previously 

 trusted so fully upon good cultivation may swing to the other 

 extreme and trust too much to the stream of water and too little 

 to the plow and cultivator. There is a temptation this way when 

 one finds that he can run water in large amounts very cheaply. 

 Not only is there danger of over-irrigation in the growth of tree 

 and fruit, but the ill effects of water upon the soil, when unattended 

 by good cultivation, are constantly threatened. The tree needs 

 air as well as water; i't needs a certain free condition of the soil 

 for its best root action. These needs can be amply secured when 

 adequate application of water is quickly followed by soil-stirring. 

 Irrigated soil rightly treated is delightfully mellow and free and 

 of condition to invite the fullest activity on the part of the tree. 

 Irrigated ground not properly treated becomes compacted, fissured, 

 cloddy and generally hateful, losing moisture rapidly, setting 

 around the roots like cement and tearing them by its subsequent 

 shrinkage. These conditions do not occur on the lighter soils, 

 and yet even these are best when cultivated in a rational manner. 



METHODS OF IRRIGATION 



There are 1 various methods employed in California for the con- 

 veyance and application of water to trees and vines. Some of the 

 principal ones will be described. 



