BEFfER FRUIT 



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need irrigating is to dig down into I he 

 soil near the roots and examine the soil. 

 If the soil retains its shape when 

 s(|neezed in the hand there is probabl}' 

 sufficient moisture, but if it has a tend- 

 ency' to fall apart the trees should be 

 irrigated at once. Much experimenta- 

 tiim must yet be done before we are able 

 to tell as to what times during the sea- 

 son the trees need the most water. Our 

 experiment station should now be work- 

 ing along tliis line. 



A few general truths are self-evident, 

 linwever, and have already been demon- 

 strated. There is a period in the growth 



Figure 29— SOIL AUGER 

 Used to locate grovuid- water 

 level. 



when the fruit increases rapidly in size. 

 With apples this is usually in June- and 

 July, during which time the trees must 

 not be allowed to want for water. 



Young trees grow very rapidly in this 

 Icjcality, and cases are common in which 

 the tender shoots have been killed and 

 tlie trees ruined by earlj' fall frosts. 

 Water should not be applied to young- 

 trees in this locality after August 20tli 

 or September 1st, but should be with- 

 held in order that the rapid growth may 

 stop and the wood toughen up before 

 the early freezes. 



Many inquiries have been received 

 during the past j^ear in regard to the 



water requirements nf orchards. This 

 has never been fixed within very narrow 

 limits. It unquestionably varies with the 

 class of soil and sub-soil, and with the 

 climate, as well as with the skill of the 

 irrigati ir. 



1 ha\e been carrj'ing on the largest 

 duty of w^ater in vestigatii >n during the 

 past year that was ever attempted. In 

 co-operatiiin with the state engineer I 

 have measured the yields produced and 

 the water used upnn over 120 different 

 fields in different parts of the state, and 

 some very interesting results ha^•e been 

 secured. Unfortunately no orchards 

 were included in the in\'estigatii m. but 

 we are able to reason back \e\-y cinseh' 

 from what was required hy other crops, 

 such as jiiitatoes, etc.. and 1 am of the 

 opinion that from one to one and a half 

 feet in depth during the season will be 

 found sufficient for orchards on ordinarj- 

 Boise Valley s(_iils. This amount would 

 be supplied during a season with but a 

 trifle less than one-half a miner's inch 

 per acre. The investigation will be 

 carried on again during the coming year, 

 and it is hoped to include orchards in 

 the in\'estigation. 



Tn summing up the many factors 

 which the orchardi-t must take into 

 consideration 1 wish lo emphasize the 

 f( >1 1< J wing : 



1. A good site which is free from 

 frost must be selected, and it is highly 

 desirable that the orchard be planted on 

 dee]), well drained soil. 



2. The ground should be well leveled 

 and laid out for irrigation. The strips 

 between the trees should alM) he pre- 

 pared so that water can be economicalh' 

 applied. 



:i. Good stock should be selected, and 

 the roots should never be allowed to dry- 

 out fron-i the time the tree is dug until 

 it is platited again. A good sized hole 

 should be dug and the roots should lie 

 thoi-oughly "puddled in" with \\,-iter when 

 the tree is planted. 



4. The soil of orchards shoul<l never 

 be saturated with water. Plant growth 

 demands that there be some air in the 

 Soil. There is most need for water in 

 June and July and the first part of 

 August. 



."). A deep dust mulch, such as is pro- 

 duced by thorough cultivation, is bene- 

 ficial in coi-iservii-ig- moisture. 



(i. Young trees should never be irri- 

 gated too late in the fall. 



7. The conditioi-i of the soil should be 

 closely watched in lU'der to deteri-nine 

 when to irrigate. On ordinary soils 

 orchards require from one lo one and a 

 half feet in depth during the season. 



In conclusion let me say that the good 

 sense of the tiller of the s<:)il n-iust be 

 brought to bear in the application of 

 water to his land. Study the surround- 

 ing coi-iditions, and let those coi-iditions 

 be your guide — do this ai-id success will 

 come, in face of the many failures of 

 those laekii-ig in obser^-atiorl. 



5'- 'V 



l-ir.i KE .SAXJ) I'.o.X IX 'iri.K I.IXIC 



