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1917 ANNUAL REPORT 



not cultivated. For the first three years, this had the regular citrus cultiva- 

 tion. Last winter alfalfa was planted, leaving 3 feet on each side of the 

 tree row. Shallow furrows were put in down the tree rows. The first cut- 

 ting of alfalfa was used as a heavy mulch, with absolutely no cultivation. 

 The water has been turned on often in the grove. The trees made a heavy 

 bloom and growth this year. Those receiving much water set much fruit. 

 I have not found that one can give avocados too much water. The ground 

 is at all times very wet. The mulch is not removed and there is no culti- 

 vation. Trees have made the best growth this year, of any year before. 

 Buds which were put in in June, have made a wonderful growth. The 

 water ran almost continuously on newly budded trees. The soil is a rich 

 loam to approximately 30 feet, at least. The orchard is on a gentle slope. 

 I have never lost trees from too much water. 



E. E. Knight: Mrs. Stewart could not run water that way if she 

 cultivated the orchard. 



E. A. Chase: I have been in the irrigating business twenty-five years. 

 If I could have the money I have paid for water for this purpose, I would 

 be quite rich. Most persons run water according to what they can get. 

 Porous soil does not retain surplus water; hence is not damaged by it. The 

 same amount of water applied to heavier soil might be in excess of what is 

 beneficial. There is nothing about which we have had less actual knowl- 

 edge in growing things out of the ground, than as to the necessary water 

 to give best results. It has been mostly, if not wholly, guess work. In the 

 last year or two there has been considerable work done in the way of test- 

 ing soil moisture and through these methods we may be able to learn some- 

 thing as to the quantity of water required to give best results on different 

 soils. 



Wm. D. Stephens: I have been experimenting with the culture of the 

 avocado for about six years. On my home place in Montebello, I have 

 a deep rich clay loam soil of unvarying character for at least 6 feet in 

 depth. For the past two years I have not irrigated oftener than once in 

 six weeks and on several occasions have extended the periods to ten weeks. 

 I usually cultivate the ground deeply twice, and in addition keep the 

 ground around the trees stirred deeply with a forked hoe between irriga- 

 tions. The distance across my grove is about 700 feet and I let the water 

 run slowly, requiring about three days for the water to get through the 

 furrows when it is at once shut off. At no time have my trees shown any 

 wilting of the foliage or any visible indications that the trees lacked the 

 proper amount of moisture and I challenge a comparison with any trees of 

 equal age in the State, both as to size and vigor. 



J. T. Whedon: How does Mr. Stephens account for the growth of 

 the avocado in Mexico and South America without cultivation? 



Mr. Stephens : Several years residence in the plateaus of southern Mex- 

 ico where the avocado flourishes at its native best, side by side with the 

 orange, lemon and lime, have satisfied me that there is not the slightest 

 ground on which to base a comparison between the absolute lack of care 

 under which all varieties of trees and fruits flourish in the tropics and the 

 care and treatment essential to the best development of the same trees and 

 fruits here in California. 



I wish to state that in the municipality of Atlixco, State of Puebla, 



