30C 



THE IRRIGATION AGE. 



need during the year may be applied during the win- 

 ter, as recommended for deciduous orchards. But they 

 commonly need more water during the summer than 

 do the latter. However, it does not seem to be wise 

 to give citrus trees sufficient water during summer to 

 keep up a fresh growth during the hottest weather of 

 July and August, and from October 15th to December 

 15th water should be withheld entirely. Fresh growth 

 made during the middle of summer is apt to be injured 

 by heat, and growth made during the late fall is apt to 

 be injured by cold. The best time to induce unpro- 

 tected citrus trees to make growth seems to be from 

 March to June inclusive. 



PEAS. 



If sown from November 15 to February 15 peas 

 may be planted just as they are in regions where they 

 are not irrigated, and furrows for irrigation made after 

 the peas have made some growth. To make this pos- 

 sible the soil in which they are to be sown should be 

 thoroughly irrigated and well plowed and harrowed 



or if rain occurs, however, it is best to harrow the field 

 once or more during these two months. 



The best time to plant in this region is usually 

 early February, and the plants should appear about a 

 month later. If the soil has been put into proper con- 

 dition previous to planting, potatoes will usually pro- 

 duce a better crop if not irrigated until early in April. 

 For irrigation, make furrows midway between the rows 

 (which should be thirty to thirty-six inches apart) 

 with a good-sized shovel plow. Turn a small stream 

 of water down each furrow and permit it to run four 

 to eight hours, the time depending upon the character 

 of the soil. The applications of about 0.4 of a foot of 

 water at each irrigation is advisable. As soon as the 

 soil is sufficiently dry, which will be in two to three 

 days, the field should be thoroughly cultivated. Dur- 

 ing the remainder of April and during early May the 

 crop will commonly need either one or two more irri- 

 gations. After giving the last irrigation, instead of 

 using a cultivator, when the soil is sufficiently dry, the 



Fig. 3. Irrigating young strawberries through endless ditches. 



previous to sowing. As long as they are making a 

 thrifty growth it is best to withhold water. 



If sown at other times of the year than the sea- 

 son mentioned above, it will usually be necessary to sow 

 the peas along previously-made furrows, or to make 

 furrows directly after they are sown. Running water 

 through these furrows is usually necessary to bring 

 the peas up during the warm weather of early fall and 

 early spring. In whatever way or at whatever time 

 they are sown it is best not to keep the soil too wet 

 and to cultivate it after each irrigation. 

 POTATOES. 



At least half of the water necessary to produce 

 a spring crop of potatoes may be stored in the soil be- 

 fore the field is planted. If two-thirds to one foot of 

 water (the amount necessary depending on the condi- 

 tion of the soil) be applied and the soil plowed deeply 

 and well harrowed just before planting, potatoes may 

 be planted here during winter in just the same man- 

 ner as they are in regions where they are not irrigated, 

 the field harrowed level, and no further attention be 

 given them for about two months. If weeds appear, 



shovel-plow used for furrowing may be run in the fur- 

 rows and the soil thus thrown about the plants. 



If planted during August for a fall crop, instead 

 of harrowing the field level after planting, as is done 

 in the winter, the furrows made in covering the pota- 

 toes need to be left for the first irrigation, which must 

 usually occur soon after planting. The subsequent 

 treatment is the same as of winter-planted potatoes, 

 except that the crop will need more frequent irrigation. 

 But usually, though irrigated freely, a satisfactory 

 crop can. not be secured at this season. 



The winter-planted crop of potatoes, since it makes 

 the most of its growth during cool weather, is pro- 

 duced with a comparatively small amount of water 

 less than in some cooler regions, where potatoes are 

 necessarily grown during the summer. A total of 1.5 

 to 2.0 feet of water is ample to produce a good crop 

 in most soils. The tendency with many growers is to 

 apply too much water and to give too little cultivation. 

 The amount of water mentioned above, with proper 

 cultivation, will produce a better crop than double the 

 amount without cultivation. Too early irrigation tends 



