Nursery Irrigation. 75 
laid down by the authorities, and in this State another condition 
must be made, and that is the climate or weather conditions 
prevailing in the locality. Where the rainfall is generally light 
and the soil loose, seed must be planted deeper than where good 
spring showers are to be expected. In fine soils seeds must be 
planted shallower than in coarse, even with the same rainfall. 
Judgment and experience must dictate in this matter, and if a 
man has no experience, he is pretty apt to get it. 
During the spring months the cultivator must be used as 
often as may be required to keep the weeds from getting too 
high, or the soil from becoming too densely packed by heavy 
rains, but the ground should never be worked when too wet. 
It requires some watchfulness and promptitude to use the culti- 
vator just at the right time. 
Nursery Irrigation—In parts of the State where the rainfall 
is adequate, cultivation thorough, the soil sufficiently retentive, 
and atmospheric conditions favorable, the seedling will make its 
growth without irrigation, and many nurseries are on ground 
not provided at all with irrigation facilities. In other parts of 
the State irrigation is necessary. Water should be applied spar- 
ingly, and yet enough to keep the seedling in healthy, growing 
condition. This is shown by the leaves, which should not droop 
or curl. Excessive irrigation should be guarded against, because 
a soft, excessive growth is very undesirable. Water is a good 
thing, and in some cases a very necessary thing, but the use of 
it should be wisely regulated. At budding it is, necessary that 
the sap should be free and the bark slip easily. 'To foster this 
condition it is sometimes desirable to give a watering a few days 
before budding commences. Water should be applied by run- 
ning it through shallow furrows between the rows, and the cul- 
tivator should follow as soon as the ground is dry enough to 
work freely. 
