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ANNUAL REPORT 1920 AND 1921 



intelligently; to cultivate too soon after irrigating is detrimental to the soil, espe- 

 cially so when of the heavy type, as the soil does not pulverize w^ell and stays too 

 open, consequently the moisture evaporates too freely ; to wait too long with the 

 cultivating after irrigating is just as bad, if not worse, as the soil will not break 

 up and make a fine mulch but will remain in a dry and baked condition. But 

 generally speaking from three to five days should elapse between irrigating and 

 cultivating, depending upon type of soil and other conditions. 



The non-cultivation of the Avocado orchard is not to be recommended, 

 as the root system of the trees will be formed too near the surface and the crop 

 of weeds, which will grow as the result of irrigating and no cultivating, will take 

 away a great deal of moisture from the tree. On the other hand, if the weeds 

 are plowed under once a year, it will add to the physical condition of the soil. 



When trees come into bearing, fertilizer applied to the best advantage should 

 be plowed under in case of barn-yard manure and if of the commercial type 

 should be either plowed or drilled in. 



To sum it up — intelligent plowing and cultivating at the proper time is 

 advisable in preference to no cultivation. 



6. FERTILIZATION 

 WM. HERTRICH 



It is the general opinion of most Avocado growers that a liberal application 

 of fertilizer of some kind or other is necessary, when trees begin to bear heavy 

 crops. To this date barn-yard manure has been used in most cases, but experi- 

 ments are in progress as to the value of commercial fertilizer; tankage, bone 

 meal and fish meal having been used, the results of which should be available 

 within the next year or so. 



Different kinds of cover crops have been used (in some of the larger 

 orchards) of the leguminous types, which improve the physical condition of the 

 soil as well as add humus and nitrogen. The most common legumes in use at 

 the present time are the Melilotus indica and Purple Vetch. 



The Avocado tree is very similar to the citrus tree so far as its growth is 

 concerned, the fruit, however, differs considerably in its analysis, and bearing 

 trees will probably require somewhat different proportion of fertilizing elements 

 to produce satisfactory results. 



7. AVOCADO PRUNING 

 CARTER BARRETT 



The pruning of any tree is prolific of more argument than any other phase 

 of horticulture, perhaps, and the avocado is no exception to the rule. Many 

 growers have left their trees severely alone in this regard, arguing that the avocado 

 is naturally a drooping type of tree, and should be allowed to spread all over 

 the ground. Very few deny that this has been a mistake, now that the young 

 orchards are reaching the bearing point. 



Based on an experience covering large acreages, and consisting of many 

 varieties, in different localities and ranging over a period of years, the writer 

 has developed certain well defined general methods, which, of course, have 

 varied in details to meet the individual problem of each tree. A budded 

 avocado, being an artificially produced tree, must receive help outside the 

 ordinary course of nature in order to form the sturdy framework requisite to the 

 successful carrying of the heavy loads of fruit the grower expects of it. 



