The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-05-10

now handled 60 that the effect II like that Of
slow soaking ram; lines Ims. Is uDme Sy Tunn,n'
between two rows Of trees, and rarely less thar
FIVE. For n ten-acre tract. which IL $50 fee
square. these streams are rarely over n RallOr
or a gallon and a half q minute each. IL take
this stream from ten to twenty hours To creeI
across the $50 feet, and after doing so II Ia al
lowed ~ run two or three days longer. TINT
formity In the flow Is secured by having the
ground planned 70 an even slope, or. every fac,
! on which water is TO run, and the burrows fed
by gates from n fume or small stop cocks from
a pipe at tho upper end. All attempts Tn feed
ground result In steady loss ard annoyance
yet, incredible AS II may seem. these two errors
are the very ones 70 which the beginner most
striking object lessons TO the contrary.
Most all OF the fine orange land, coarse, as it
hold up these little streams. But IN some
good belts It lets, them through too fast. and
s Teal Of ofe tS Sso slow, I Iinver IN T opeSstion Of old
times, II IL nov a quick rush OF the water on
and on again as soon as It has done its work.
'''rIdFer'' TO throw loose earth to a ridge. be-
ing cut as soon as the basin ia filled. The water
ID W he v " tpI's cannon " had "S sp IN ,u%facient
quantity to wet the whole field. basins OF wa
rious sizes and shapes. according TO the amount
the run Of the water. are made a,round the
tree and flied, with water two or three times
II necessary. But instead Of being made deep
and. filled often enough to make, a good wal
lowing hole for. u family OF full-grown pigs:
they are nnde shallow, and no more water put
In than will quickly soak away.
This is the method which the greater part
OF the East will use. Though 1t is not so good
It is good enough for such fruits as the East
raises in those places where there arc summer
rains. but often Just short enough. or coming
not at the right time. to do away with all the
profit Of the year. 1t Is also much the cheap
S St.r and . can w1nd ne p'G I'd hi,s thGus snr5nv OF r. p IsytIs
stream In the meadow may DO the only source
OF supply.
But whatever tho mode Of applying water.
cultivation follows at once on all the
best orchards. 1t Is now proved bevnnd the
shadow OF a doubt that the soil needs Dir as
from the results. The cultivator Is of great
value in retaining the moisture applied, and
for that purpose alone would he worth all 1t
costs. But the quality. OF the fruit. as vel as
the yield and the higher percentage Of first
grade. In which lies all the profit. show that
there Is something else needed. All ATTEMPTS
to supply this something else with water fail.
stirring Of the soil alone does II. In
In summer not u weed ar spear NJ grass can DO
seen In miles Of orchard. As soGn NJ the
and as soon as It is through one way
II generally goes the other, and 81 on until the
Is capped from the ground; An
orchard allowed to grow up In weeds and
grass like the average Eastern orchard will not
begin to boar tho same percentage Of first
grade fruit that nne well cultivated will bear.
difference is trifling to the inexperienced
eye. but appalling In the bank account.
Water used to be applied about once u week.
To-day II Is not used over once a month any
where, In most places not over once in six
weeks. and in some not more than three times
In the whole season. The difference depends
mainly on the dryness OF the air. and the heat
Of the summer. as well as the age OF the trees
md the load they are carrying. instead OF
the soil being cold and sour, II Is warm, mel
ow. and light. Except in winter. when it
makes little difference, IL is never allowed to
~ too wet. and. on the other hand, never al
owed to become too dry.
The skilful i%rrigator does not wait. as they
10 In the Eas., Until everything is too far gone.
Though the trees give you full notice when
hey want water. to await that notice NAV be
% shrink the crop considerably. He therefore
Judges. by the moisture remaining in the soil.
we'll as by the length Of time. since the
asst watering and the character of the weather
nd the load OF the trees.
TO carry q heavy load of fruit to a high per
entage. of first grade involves the very high
st skill with water and cul;ivator. In this
California leads the world in all
ines of fruit. The quantity OF first grade
he trees are made to carry through Is often
arge profits arc. and be who thinks he can
heat the tree OUT of that care has something
ct to learn. No fertility OF the soil, no
mount or fertilizers, no amOu mt of water, sun
be principal reason why failures Of tho fruit
rop In California are. almost unknown. Some
rops Will be larger than others, but a light
OF oranges Is something. quite unknown,
nd It is nearly the. same with all the decidu-
US fruits where they are treated with the
anne care, as they are in hundreds OF or chards.
Millions of dollars are lost every summer in
he East by the failure OF rain to come at Just
he. ri1ht time. The tree NAV not show IL.
nd to the eye the fruit may be the S anne as
yer and the flavor all right. Yet In a week.
ven In less time. n certain amount or all
{ the fruit shrinks just n trifle too much for
ne market. y little water at Just the right
me would have saved many dollars an acre.