TWENTY-EIGHTH FRUIT-GROWERS' CONVENTION. 



25 



much as is practicable, divide our soil into three kinds, and simply 

 call them heavy (containing much clay), loamy or light, sandy or 

 gravelly. Let us also discuss this from a practical rather than a 

 theoretical standpoint. 



In thinking of irrigation and cultivation our minds naturally con- 

 sider the running of water and the stirring of the soil which follows; 

 but I think the subject is much broader than that, and in reality relates 

 to the work, or non-work, if I may use the term, which is given the 

 land throughout the entire year. Here in Southern California our 

 season really begins with the fall rains. Let us commence our reason- 

 ing at the same time and begin then to prepare for the following 

 summer. 



The three kinds of soil previously spoken of will require different 

 treatment, but all in a general way may be handled alike at this 

 season, if we make an exception to extremely heavy soil, which many 

 furrow each way with heavy plow and subsoiler, which enables the land 

 to take in the winter rains more readily. 



The practice of green-manuring is surely a good one, for in this way 

 we in a measure imitate nature, and the nearer we come to copying 

 after her the more substantial will be our work. The mere fact of turn- 

 ing under a wealth of green is itself of great value, and when we add to 

 this the fertilizing benefits derived from any of the nitrogenous plants 

 the benefits are multiplied many times. The skeptic says as much is 

 drawn from the soil as is replaced. I do not believe it, and point to the 

 old fields grown up to grass and weeds for years — this land is not 

 deteriorating. Aside from the fertilizing which the soil receives by 

 plowing-under a crop of peas, the humus added is of great value in 

 assisting the soil to remain loose, and this is one of the ends at which 

 the thoughtful worker aims, for such land will take in w r ater more 

 readily and retain it longer than will a hard, compact soil. 



A good way to secure a rank growth of peas is to plow early in the 

 fall, break up the crust which has formed during the summer — roots 

 can now be cut with comparative safety — sow peas broadcast or drill, 

 harrow or cultivate the ground, draw furrows to allow of winter irriga- 

 tion if necessary, and unless the season is unusually wet, irrigate often 

 after the peas are up sufficiently to shade the ground. Plow-under as 

 soon as the pods are well formed. This can be done by using a sharp 

 plow, heavy chain, coulter, and patience — plenty of the latter should be 

 taken, and then the chances are even that the stock will be fairly well 

 exhausted by the end of the first day. A disk harrow is said to be an 

 advantage, if run over the land before plowing. 



There are a number of native plants which are very valuable. All of 

 our wild clovers and lupins are good, and it has often seemed strange 

 to me that lupin seed is not on the market. The plant possesses some 



