4 
NOTES ON PLUM CULTURE. 
ten days for young trees; somewhat less frequently for those 
older. 
The effects of drouth during July and August are fre- 
quently seen in small inferior fruit. Reasonable care in the 
application of water during this period will well repay the 
trouble in the increased quantity and better quality of fruit. 
It is, however, possible to apply an excess that may work as 
great injury as the most severe drouth. It is only by study- 
ing the appearance of the trees, and the condition of the 
soil that we can arrive at a correct adjustment of the quantity 
to be applied, and the time to apply it. 
It is our practice here to withhold water after the first 
of September in order to check growth and allow the wood 
to ripen. If growing conditions are maintained through the 
fall the young and succulent wood, of even the hardiest va- 
rieties, is in danger of being killed by low winter tempera- 
tures, but if well ripened it survives the extremes without 
injury. Twice within the last six years we have had open 
winters that proved more productive of injury to trees than 
those of continuous cold. There were long periods of warm 
weather, with no frost in the ground, and no precipitation to 
supply the continuous evaporation. The soil became very 
dry and the trees suffered in consequence. To guard as 
much as possible against such injury it is the practice to 
give a late irrigation, usually in November. If the ground 
can be well saturated at this time it is of advantage to the 
orchard whether the months following be cold or warm; if 
warm, the soil will not so soon become dry, and danger from 
this source is lessened; if cold and the soil be continuously 
frozen, the moisture is retained and the conditions for spring 
growth improved. 
The system practiced is to furrow for each irrigation, 
using a one-horse pk)w and turning from the trees on both 
sides of the row. Water is run in the furrows for from 12 
to 36 hours according to the supply available and the condi- 
tion of the j5oil. As soon as practicable after irrigating, a 
harrow is used to close the furrow and smooth the surface. 
The aim is to keep a constant mulch of loose soil on the sur- 
face so as to check evaporation as far as possible. The 
method of applying water is illustrated by plate 2. 
PLANTING DISTANCE. 
Practice and opinion on the matter of distance between 
trees in orchard planting is very diverse. The general 
