The oasis., 1894-09-13
Fall Irrigation of Fruit Trees.
California cultivator.

the seasons are well defined, the rain- fall twenty-five inches and over per annum, and the changes in tempera- ture from high to low, sufficient to check the growth of vegetation and give the trees an opportunity to gath CT material for vigorous growth and fruitage the coming season. It was, therefore, not surprising that the ear Tier efforts to grow deciduOus fruits in the arid region, and especially the attempts to grow them among semi tropical fruits, should prove failures
 Our fruit growers from northern lands found in time that much more care must be exercised in their culti- vatlon and the use of water under ir- rIgatlon than when Providence was relied upon to give or withhold the water necessary for the growth Of their crops,
 A constant supply of water, com hiued with the nigh temperature prevalent, will keep deciduons trees iaa growing condition thtotighout tho year, and to their material injury, for, unlike semi-tropical vegetation, they req 1lire lcng period of rest from growth to secure their most perfect development. Hence the impropriety Of planting these fruits in mixed lots, for what my be necessary for semi tropical plants would be positively in- furious to decid1O1s. The fdrmer, under favorable conditions, can be male to produce fruit the year round, an1 it Is not a1 unusual thing to see l1 southern California the orange and lsmba bfees loaded with blossoms, un- flpe and ripe frnit at all seasons of the year. Dsciduons fruit trees pro- duca bat one crop each year, and when this i5 gathered the tree mnst have such natural conditions as will enable 1t to perfect the foundation for the crop of the counting year. To do this In the arid region only sufficient water should be allowed to perfect the growth of the past spring and sum- msr, presuming that this has been properly encouraged The sub-soil should be carefully examined, and if lt balls readily by pressure of the hand, 1t Is sufficiently moist, but if not, light irrigation about half the quantity usually given at full irri- gation) should be allowed, which will be sufficient for the orchard until the winter rains sets in. If the rains are delayed until say the middle of Dec cmber, thorough irrigation of all deciduous fruit trees should be given.
 Citrus fruit trees should not be irrl- gated after the 10th of September if the trees have been properly irrigated and cultivated during the past sum- mer. They will get along well with out it for a couple of months, and the tendency to a luxuriant growth of branches during this month and Oc- tober, caused by an abundance of moisture and the high temperature usually prevalent during these months will be checked and the growth al- ready made caused to harden, and thus place the tree in much better condition to resist November frost, if one shoGld happen to occur. Should the winter rains be delayed beyond the middle of November, would rec omend a light irrigation.
 To sum up the best system ofirriga- tion of orchards for the year, l would recommend giving all the water the trees could utilize from September to December to keep them in good healthy condition.