12 



BULLETIN 446, U. S. DEPAKTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



Of the 57 ranchers who practiced clean cultivation, 28 began the 

 seasonal preparation of the soil by the use of the plow, 25 by the 

 disk harrow, 3 by the cultivator, and 1 by the spike-tooth harrow. 

 Of the 2S who plowed, 15 did so in the fall and 13 in the spring. 

 Not all of these orchardists, however, plow every year. Nineteen 

 plow every year, 8 every two years, and 1 every three years. 



Following the plowing or disking, cultivations are given previous 

 to the first irrigation. All orchardists who follow any method of 

 clean cultivation do some cultivating previous to the first irrigation. 

 Following these first cultivations, which are usually between April 1 

 and May 15, the orchard is furrowed preparatory to the first irri- 

 gation. Furrowing is locally known as " creasing. ;; Cultivations 

 are usually given after irrigations until the middle of the summer, or 

 until the weight of the fruit bears the limbs down so that further 

 cultivation is impracticable. If at any time there is a rain heavy 

 enough to pack the soil, a cultivation is usually given. Not all 

 orchardists, however, cultivate after each irrigation. (See Table VI.) 



Table VI. — Analysis of operations in clean cultivation. 



Operation. 



Plowing 



Cultivation: 



Total 



Before first irrigation 



Following first irrigation. . . 

 Following second irrigation. 

 Following third irrigation. . 

 Following fourth irrigation. 

 Following fifth-irrigation. . . 

 Creasing: 



Total 



Before first irrigation . . 



Before second irrigation ... 



Before third irrigation 



Before fourthirrigation 



Before fifth irrigation 



Before sixth irrigation 



Orchardists who 



perform each 



operation.' 



Number. 



2S 



Per cent 

 of total. 



49.12 



100.00 



91.23 



.-63. 16 



31.58 



3.51 



1.76 



Man. 



Hours 

 per acre. 



2.91 



21.36 



11.96 



4.69 



3.25 



1.28 



.13 



.05 



4.24 

 1.51 

 1.39 

 .93 

 .35 

 .04 

 .02 



Per cent 

 of total 

 time, 



100. 00 



55.99 



21.96 



15.22 



5.99 



.61 



.23 



Horse. 



Hours 

 per acre. 



5.35 



38.98 



22.26 



8.57 



5.58 



2.30 



.18 



6.48 

 2.34 

 2.14 

 1.34 

 . 55 



05 



There appears to be no particular sequence in the use of the cultu- 

 ral implements. The exact method by which desirable conditions 

 of tilth are secured is in part dependent upon the local soil and cli- 

 mate and in part upon the individual conception of the orchardist. 

 There enters here, however, the proper study of the soil with which 

 each grower has to deal, the behavior of the trees, and the condition 

 of the fruit. Early plowing and maintenance of a good soil mulch 

 are of great advantage in retaining the moisture in the soil during 

 the growing season. (See Table VII.) 



