Measurements of the widths of the annual rings to indicate the amount of soil moisture available to trees may not be reliable. Other means of measuring growth are suggested.The growth of apricot, almond, and peach trees were not adversely affected by variations in the amount of readily available soil moisture.The results show that high soil moisture does not result in greater growth than when it is at a lower level, but duration and the time the trees are supplied with readily available soil moisture and the time at which its deficiency occurs may be critical.