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irrigating or watering an orchard, the water should never be led or 

 poured into a cup-shaped bowl, dug around the stem. This causes 

 a gummy exudation to ooze out at the crown of the tree, and the 

 plant dies of collar rot. The stem should always be protected from 

 actual immersion in water by a small mound of earth which is 

 banked up around it. 



Irrigation on ground which is not naturally well drained, or 

 where no attempt has been made to deep drain the soil, is often the 

 cause of the displacement of masses of injurious alkaline salts from 

 deep down towards the surface, where they finally accumulate and 

 corrode the roots and stem and kill the trees. Much valuable 

 information on this rising of the soluble alkalies in irrigated soils 

 is due to Professor Hilgard's researches in California. It has been 

 shown that the presence of as much as a quarter of one per cent. 

 (25 = 8,7501bs. on one acre of soil 1ft. deep) of carbonate of soda, 

 one of the most corrosive of soil alkalies, renders that soil sterile. 



Over-irrigation is one of the greatest causes of failure in the 

 hands of the amateur irrigationist. In a climate like ours, where 

 the ground is well soaked during the winter months, there is little 

 need to water the trees until early in summer if on deep loamy 

 ground. Two or three more thorough waterings at intervals of a 

 month, followed up by thorough cultivation and pulverisation of 

 the surface ground, would thence meet the requirements of most 

 trees. 



A good soaking is better than two or three niggardly waterings, 

 which, instead of encouraging root growth deeper down into the 

 soil, attract the tender rootlets towards the moistened surface, where 

 they lie exposed, to be hacked about by implements of cultivation, 

 or to be dried up should a hot, dry spell of weather set in. 



The benefit derived from irrigation is often annulled by neglect 

 to suitably manure the land. It stands to reason that, if a soil can 

 supply the necessary plant-food for half a-dozen successive crops of, 

 say, two tons of fruit to the acre, without showing any need for a 

 supplement of that food in the shape of manure, it will, when pro- 

 ducing, say, four tons of fruit, when put under intensive culture, 

 with the aid of irrigation, show signs of falling oft' much quicker 

 than it would otherwise have done. 



The belief that a crop is all right because it has been irrigated, 

 unfortunately proves only too often a delusion ; unless the operation 

 can be carried out at a reasonable cost, with suitable water, on well- 

 drained ground, properly manured, and unless the operation is not 

 overdone, irrigation cannot be profitable. It is also essential, when 

 orchards and vineyards are concerned, that the pruning and thinning 

 operations should receive proper attention, and that pests and 

 blights should be vigorously suppressed and not allowed to share 

 with the owner the surplus crop which irrigation carried out under 

 favourable circumstances always ensures. 



