Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1909-01-22

shallow soils are adapted to irriga.
tion. To irrigate with profit, the
subsoil must be right. II the sub.
soil is wrong, irrigation would be
detrimental.
A shallow loan soil, two and a
half feet deep resting on decompos.
ed bedrock, or broken bedrock, OF
loose gravel would be all right for
irrigation. Irrigation, IL intelli.
gently done would be a great benefit
to an apple or pear orchard on such
land, for the reason the surplus wa
ter In irrigating would readily drain
off through the gravel and bedrock
without injury to the growing tree.
On the other hand, should a shall
low soil rest on clay sub-soil, or q
cement hard pan, irrigation would
be detrimental to the growing ap-
pie and pear trees. To success
fully irrigate fruit trees ON any
of our soils here underdrainage must
be had to carry Off the surplus wa
ter during the irrigation period.
These shallow soils with clay
sub-soil, or cement hard-pan can be
made available for apple and pear
growing by tiling to depth of not
less than Ave feet.
Where irrigation is resorted to
the conditions of the sub-soil In re-
lation to the growth of the tree
must be intelligently understood.
The mechanical effect on shallow
soil by underdrainage with tile, is
to deepen the soil to the depth the
tile Is laid. During the winter
rains, the surplus water where land
is tiled, is drained through the soil,
and passes of through the tile, pre-
venting the fruit tree from injury
from excessive moisture during
protracted rain storms of win.
ter, keeping 1t healthy and vigor-
GUS during the dormant period, so
that when 1t quickens into growth In
the spring 1t is in the best possible
condition to grow and respond 10 the
skill, and cultivation of its owner.
Again, while the mechanica, efre,t
OF underdrainage is to deepen the
soil and carry off the surplus mois-
ture, as paradoxical as 1t may ap-
pear, underdrainage makes these
shallow soils wet, and moist during
the growing period. During the
growing period the moisture ladened
air passes through the tile, and con-
denses its moisture leaving 1t In the
soil for the growing tree. In fact,
with thorough intelligent cultivation
where these shallow soils are prop
erly underdrained, but little water Is
necessary for irrigation during the
dryest season.
Many of these shallow soils, where
the exposure is right, grapes can be
profitably grown without under
drainage, and with good cultivation.
There are many acres of deep,
rolling lands, such as second bench,
red loan, that in normal years, un-
der good cultivation, the apple and
pear can be grown at a profit, and
with water for irrigation during the
dry seasons these deep bench lands
can be made very valuable.
In past years | have noted many
acres of these shallow, dry soils be-
ing planted to the apple and pear
without any consideration of the
character Of the sub-soil, or what
the effects Of underdrainage would
be were 1t tiled. | know In all rea-
son that the results and profits In
planting such soils will be disap-
pointment to the grower, hence ] call
the attention Of the growers to this
subject of soils adapted to growing
various varieties Of fruits.
The variety of climate, together
with soils in the various counties In
the Third District and annual pre-
cipitation had in each county, hope
by detailed description of each
county, to give the prospective set
tier some data that will enable him
to intelligently Judge soil conditions
that will be congenial to the fruit
he may desire to grow.