THE RIGHT AMOUNT 67 
depend upon irrigation, then use the water as seldom as 
possible. I would add that each time you do use water, 
use it thoroughly. Do not just wet the surface and so 
bring the delicate fibrous roots up to the top of the ground 
for them to get scorched by the hot sun, but give a 
thorough watering, so that the water will go down below 
the roots, and the roots will go down after the water. 
The real objections which non-irrigating fruit-growers 
have to irrigation is the additional cost it makes to the 
general costs of producing a crop, a charge per acre which 
is imposed for all time to come, without any hope of ever 
getting relief from the burden. Moreover, if there is any 
possibility of the available water-supply running short, 
to that content there exists the possibility of further 
expense having to be incurred in bringing in additional 
supplies, or of the rancher having to go without water 
just at the critical time when he needs it most. 
But whilst it is better to grow fruit without artificial 
irrigation, it is at the same time wise, even in the non- 
irrigated districts of British Columbia, to make provision, 
by flume or reservoir or well, for a supply of water, 
suitably placed, against the dry months of July and 
August. What may chance to need an application of 
water at that season is not the older and well-established 
trees—they can generally look after themselves without 
artificial irrigation—but the quite young trees which have 
not yet sent their roots far down into the ground, and 
the surface crops, such as strawberries, clover, potatoes. 
A judicious supply of water given to quite young trees 
in July, and again in August, will keep them moving and 
prevent a check that might be hurtful to them. You 
