36 CALIFORNIA AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION Service [Circ 42

An irrigation after the crop is harvested, generally in September
or October, will benefit the trees and put the soil in condition to
favor the germination and growth of the cover crop. This irrigation
also aids fruit bud development and is. therefore, important from the

Fig. 9.—Winter irrigation bv means of the check or basin svstem.

standpoint of the succeeding season’s crop. It is desirable to keep an
available supply of moisture in the soil throughout the year, since
with sufficient moisture root growth may continue during late fall
and winter months even though the top is dormant.