FLORIDA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
137 
As to times and seasons, there is no period in the life of ara 
orange tree when it requires water as it does during the 
blooming season. Just previous to this critical time it has 
been dormant and the soil as a rule is comparatively dry on 
most of our elevated lands. The tree suddenly begins to put 
out a hardy new growth, as well as bloom, covering its entire 
surface. The chances are that moisture is wanted to bring 
out the growth and fully develop it, including the bloom and 
its setting. Then we should irrigate, and irrigate heavily,, 
not by continuous, daily applications, but by giving the grove 
a thorough wetting and then stopping until the practiced eye 
sees in the tops of the trees the slightest inclination of the new 
leaves to curl. This may occur in a dry time, from six to ten 
days after a thorough irrigation. Then it should have another 
wetting like the first. 
With surface water to be found at varying depths, from five 
to eighty feet below the surface, it is hard to state just how 
often subsequent applications of water should be made after 
the fruit is fairly set and this first new growth well developed. 
I find that on lands where the surface water comes within 
fifteen to twenty-five feet, from five to eight applications of 
water to orange trees has been desirable every season during 
the past ten years. It is entirely unnecessary to suggest how 
often vegetables require water. It is safe to leave that to al¬ 
most any tiller of the soil. 
L’ttle need be said here about my last question : What to- 
irrigate. In general, the best paying “money” crops are the 
ones to irrigate. All citrus fruits—the orange, lemon, pomelo 
—in all their varieties, are kept in rapid and continuous 
growth, are quickened to fruitfulness and greater perfection of 
truit, are made strong to withstand insect and other enemies, 
by the judicious use of water. 
Pineapples are a profitable crop, but except in rare locations- 
it is water that, makes them so. Strawberries are a profitable 
crop with abundant water t o make them so. Even on high 
pine land, strawberries have been made to yield by the use of 
water (not forgetting the fertilizer), at the rate of one quart of 
berries for each hill. That means about 20,000 quarts to the 
acre. Abate one-half of that and there still remains a very 
profitable crop. Where there is no danger from frost, or 
where one can protect from frost, the use of water will insure 
large and profitable crops of potatoes, tomatoes, string beans, 
cucumbers and celery in the season of the year when prices are 
highest. Tne whole round of truck gardening at all seasons 
of the year is also made vastly more certain and productive by 
the use of water. 
