THE ORANGE IN CALIFORNIA — CULTIVATION. 109 



feet distant from the trunks, and down these the water is allowed 

 to flow gradually until the ground is thoroughl}^ saturated. 



Irrigation by the basin method is performed by hollowing out 

 a basin aroUnd each tree, with a diameter equal to the spread of 

 the branches; into this the water is run, and when filled is 

 conducted to the next, and so on, until all the basins have been 

 filled. These are sometimes filled two or three times, until the 

 soil will absorb no more water. By this method care must be 

 taken to prevent the water coming in contact with the trunks 

 of the trees, or they will become scalded and gum disease will 

 result. A cone of earth is usually banked up around to prevent 

 this, but must be broken and leveled ofT after each application 

 of water; if not, bad results follow, such as the breaking out of 

 gum, etc. 



CULTIVATION. 



Much of the success of the orange orchard depends upon 

 cultivation. If this be carelessly done or entirely neglected 

 the best results from the trees are not to be expected. Culti- 

 vation is imperatively needed by the orange grove, from the 

 fact that the orange does best upon irrigated lands, and irriga- 

 tion and cultivation must go hand in hand. If water is 

 applied to the orchard and it is left without cultivation the 

 soil bakes hard, cracks, the moisture escapes, and the trees 

 suffer. It is the rule, and one established by experience, to 

 cultivate after each irrigation, just as soon as the ground is 

 sufficiently dry to permit a horse to travel over it, usually in 

 two or three days after the application of water. The soil 

 must be kept mellow and free from weeds at all times. Many 

 of the leading orange-growers plow in the fall before the 

 winter rains, turning the furrows toward the trees, and harrow- 

 ing the land after. This leaves the trees on a ridge with the 

 dead furrow in the middle of the rows and serves to drain the 

 surplus water from the trees. During the winter season the 

 ground is naturally cold, and allowing the tree to stand in 

 water is very detrimental to it. In the spring a second plow- 

 ing from the trees to the middle fills up the dead furrow and 

 leaves the ground smooth for the summer. 



