Author: Theodore Strong Van Dyke

Publisher: Rarebooksclub.com

Published: 2013-09

Total Pages: 26

ISBN-13: 9781230024561

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1890 edition. Excerpt: ... not touch the plant or tree, or come near enough to make the. nil bake around it. Third, The water should be '.111'! in small streams for two or three days, and not in large streams for a few hours. ADVANTAGES AND BEST METHODS OF IRRIGATION. 31 Fourth, The ground should be cultivated as soon as dry enough, and be constantly stirred until the roots have sapped out most of the moisture. Cultivation is almost as important as irrigation, and the water should be used no oftener than is necessary, and never used again as a substitute for the plow or cultivator to prevent baking. If properly done, five times a year is the utmost required for oranges and lemons, and about.three times for all deciduous fruits, corn, potatoes, etc. And on all sections not extremely dry, once less will generally do. Such shallow-rooted and thirsty plants as strawberries must have more, but for all trees and vines the above will do. ' The modes of irrigation are various, but all of any value may be reduced to three. First. Running a small ditch from tree to tree without any basins around the tree. This is about the only survivor of the old Mexican times. Considering the fact that it wets little of the ground and only gives the tree drink, its results are wonderful. Even the olive and the native live oaks and cactus that seem to need no water will double their growth and yield under it. But it should never be used where the Second, or basin system can be used. Here a large basin is made around the tree and filled several times. Where the basin is large enough and is refilled often enough and the ground well mulched, this does fairly well but should only be used where water is scarce. It trains the tree to roots like a brush instead of sending them out laterally...