TWENTY-FOURTH ANNUAL FRUIT-GROWERS' CONVENTION. 125 



irrigation is resorted to. This certainly can be done by the basin 

 method first above mentioned. This method, although perhaps the 

 oldest in use, finds many objectors, who say it is impracticable, expen- 

 sive, and even impossible in some instances. There are those who 

 maintain that it washes the ground too much, and that where the 

 ground is rolling and the basins have to be made small too much 

 expense is incurred. The third method is to be condemned in every 

 instance. For, as has been observed, the roots of trees form a perfect 

 network throughout the soil and these roots are feeders. If, therefore, 



The Modern Method — Surface Irrigation. 



the roots which have grown during the rainy season into the unirrigated 

 portion are left without water and the soil becomes dry, they languish 

 and die. The fourth method, called the "Modern Method,'' should never 

 be resorted to excepting where absolutely necessary, and then the head 

 ditches should be very near together and the furrows small and 

 numerous. This method is very easy, popular, and cheap, and what is 

 more the pity, many people are in the habit of so irrigating. 



The different methods seem to be persistently followed in different 

 localities in the State. 



Where surface irrigation is practiced and where the ground is kept cul- 

 tivated to the depth of six inches, it follows from the premises that from 



