San Dimas Citrus Nurseries 



34 



Irrigating the Trees 



Citrus Trees must have Liquid Refreshment. 



ZIG-ZAG SYSTEM OF IRRIGATION. 



THERE are three methods of irrigation in Southern Cali- 

 fornia, viz., the furrow, the basin and the zig-zag systems. 

 Our illustrations give a clear idea of the practical working 

 phases of each. As the name implies, the furrow system consists 

 of several furrows plowed between the rows of trees, and down 

 these the water is allowed to flow gradually until the ground is 

 thoroughly saturated. In furrow irrigation the water should be 

 allowed to run very slowly in order to percolate through the soil 

 to a considerable depth and at the same time prevent its washing 

 down and leaching out the ground. 



BASIN SYSTEM OF IRRIGATION. 



The basin system consists in each tree being basined, an oper- 

 ation usually performed by a plow or what is known as a blocker 

 or ridger, which consists of a V-shaped implement made of wood 

 and iron or iron alone. This throws up a ridge or embankment 

 of earth around each tree, which is allowed to fill with water 

 from the main furrow, once or twice. In this way the whole 

 grove is treated, each basin being filled independently from the 

 the main furrow between the rows of trees which tap your main 

 supply ditch. 



The zig-zag system is an improvement on the basin system, and 



FURROW SYSTEM OF IRRIGATION. 



