Read Golden Malicious (Apple Orchard Mystery) for Free Online Page B

was an ongoing balancing act: under-watering would result in drought stress and poorer fruit quality; too much water and the roots would stop growing, and some essential nutrients would be leached out of the soil. Meg had to leave most of the calculations to Bree, since she wasn’t even sure what “drought stress” would look like. “Have you checked out permanent irrigation systems, Bree?” Meg said, panting, as she came up behind her manager.
    “Of course I’ve looked at them,” she said testily. “Think I like all this watering? Drip irrigation for fifteen or twenty acres would set us back maybe fifteen thou just to purchase and install. You got that much sitting in your bank account? And that’s just to install it—using it would probably cost us a couple of thousand dollars a year, per acre, more for the high density planting of the new trees.”
    “We could take out a loan,” Meg said dubiously. “We’ve already got the water source in place.”
    “And we’ve already got a delivery system in place—us,” Bree shot back. “Look, I can do a cost-benefit analysis for you, if it’ll make you happy, but for most farmers they’re kind of guessing anyway. And you won’t see a return on your investment for a couple of years at best.”
    Meg had to smile. “Listen to you! You’re taking me back to my financial analyst days in Boston. So you’re saying stick to what we’re doing now?”
    “That’s about it. Why? You getting tired already?”
    “I’ll manage. But you don’t mind if I pray for rain, do you?”
    “Knock yourself out!”
    They worked companionably for a few hours, and then Meg saw Christopher’s car pull into her driveway below. She waved and waited for him to climb the hill, because she knew he’d want to see the orchard. Thinking back, she realized he hadn’t visited since they planted the new section a couple of months earlier.
    “Hey, Christopher! It’s great to see you!” Meg gave him an enthusiastic hug when he arrived. Despite the fact that he was in his sixties, he didn’t seem to be the least winded from his climb.
    “My apologies to have been away so long! This new DeBroCo research building on campus is eating up all my free time, especially atop my teaching and research responsibilities. But I’m delighted to have a chance to get out, and of course, to see you and Briona. How fares your orchard?”
    “You’ll have to ask Bree—I seem to be the labor side. But I do have concerns about our water supply and our distribution system.”
    “Then let’s walk together and discuss your issues.” They set off along the grassy alleys between rows of established apple trees. Meg could tell that Christopher was assessing their condition even as he expounded on the alternatives for irrigation. They had covered most of the acreage when he arrived at a final point. “Have you considered fertigation?”
    Meg looked blank, and Bree volunteered, “You mean, like fertilizing at the same time we water? I’ve been reading about that.”
    “Precisely. Of course, the original investment costs are high, although the long-term application costs are less.”
    “That could be a problem,” Meg said, “although I like the sound of combining two tasks into one. But we’re kind of cash poor up front.”
    “From what I’ve seen today, my dear, you’re managing well under the status quo. I know it’s hard work, but I think you can get a couple of harvests under your belt, if I may muddle a metaphor, before you have to decide whether to install a new system.”
    Meg briefly contemplated another two years of hauling irrigation hoses around and resolved to take a hard look at the numbers. “The trees don’t look stressed yet, do they?”
    “No, they’re fine so far, but I’m sure Bree is keeping a sharp eye on them.”
    “Of course I am,” Bree said promptly.
    “What about insects?” Meg asked. “We’ve been doing limited spraying. Isn’t there some new apple