Cañon City record., 1908-01-16
AND IRRIGA.
TION OF THE ORCHARD

VI Bull LOuHu III OuT ITulI SIOWlh6 Boz
tions it is impossible to lay down any
definite rules for the application of
water or cultivation of the orchard.
Each grower has problem of his own
and he alone can, best solve 1t. How
ever, a few important principles may
be suggested which will aid the OBJ
serving orchardlst in the proper hand
ling OF his particular soil. Careful
observation and common sense will
do much to overcome difficulties now
commonly experienced in irrigation
fruit growing.
Many of our soils are too heavy to
be easily handled under irrigation as
commonly practiced. With frequent
irrigations and meager cultivation
they become hard and refust to take
water properly. Careful irrigation and
more rigorous cultivation will do
much to overcome this difficulty.
Heavy soils should be plowed from
six to eight inches deep at least once
each year. The destruction OF small
roots by the plow will do no damage,
while the breaking OF larger roots may
be avoided by shallow plowing near
the tree. The plowing should be done
preferably In fall or early winter. This
gives an opportunity to settle the soil
by winter and an early spring cultiva-
tons. The rain and snowfall OF win
ter also do much to settle the plowed
land Orchards plowed late In winter
or spring are generally watered with
difficulty. The loose condition OF
the soil allows the water to escape
freely from the ditch. When once out
side the confines OF the ditch, the
lateral movements OF the water are
much more rapid than the downward
and as a result. the surface soil Is
lost. The soil Is run together. and
before it is In shape to cultivate. 1t IL
hard and baked. This Is especially
true OF the soil at the upper end OF
the orchard, when an attempt Is made
to water long rows in newly plowed
land. This Is also "a suggestion to
those who have a crop to pillow under
in the old orchard or land to prepare
for the young orchard. The earlier
this crop can be turned under the bet
ter. The young orchard on late plow-
ed alfalfa land often makes a poor
start on account OF the excessive
amount OF water taken by these loose
soils.
In the practice OF irrigation many
growers fail to take into consideration
the condition OF the subsoil. Only
irrigators OF long experience with the
particular piece OF land can properly
water by examination of the surface
soil alone. The careful irrigator re-
lies upon frequent examination OF
the subsoil to guide him in the appli-
cation OF water. With the possible ex-
ception of very sandy soils. the mat
ter OF proper cultivation is greatly
simplified by watering in deep bitches.
The surface soil Is saved from a tho
rough wetting and the bitches may be
fioated full within twenty-four or
forty y-eight hours after turning OF the
water. Too often watering In shall
low bitches makes II impossible to
get a team upon the ground before
the bottom Of the bitches Is baked like
brick. The bitches should always be
filled before the surface begins to
crust Not word can be said in de-
Tense of the too common practice of
leaving the bitches open during the
entire season. The distance or length
of rows through which the water can
be successfully run will depend much
on the character Of the soil and the
grade. II is safe to say, however, the
shorter the run the better. Though
1t necessitates additional head bitches.
better results will come from break
ing the long rows up into shorter
runs. Where long runs cannot be
avoided, it is always best to start
the burrows with large head OF
water. BY rushing the water through
the rows and then shutting It down
just enough to carry through, II is
possible to do more uniform water
Ing. Heavy watering at greater inter-
walls Is always preferable to light and
frequent waterings. Frequent wat
erings are detrimental to proper soil
aeration, and without air. roots can
not grow. This explains why over
watering is especially detrimental to
young trees. The young orchard
which receives . thorough watering
once . month, supplemented by care
full cultivation, makes = better growth |
than one watered every ten days and
given NO cultivation.
Some growers are beginning to real
lie that the old orchard needs some
form of fertilizer, and from previous
experience In eastern states. at once
think OF commercial fertilizers. How
ever. the use Of commercial fertilizers
would probably prove discouraglng
under Colorado soil conditions. Many
fail to realize that comparatively few
fertilizers are soluble in
water. They must be decomposed by
other elements In the soil. To facili-