416 Transactions of the 



Irrigation, so well understood by the ancients, but neglected under 

 the barbarism of the middle ages, begins to receive that attention com- 

 mensurate to its importance for California. To prevent and repair 

 waste is an incontroverted axiom in agriculture. Still, there is but 

 little done with ug to utilize the most valuable part of our surface soil, 

 or prevent its being carried off by heavy rains and overflow. Millions 

 of acres of the richest soil, now lying barren or with only scanty vege- 

 tation, are waiting for the vivifying flow over their surface of the super- 

 abundant waters of the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers and their 

 tributaries, to fill the granaries of the world; and the overflowed or tule 

 land .at the conjunction of those rivers, if reclaimed, would surpass in 

 abundance and variety of products the famous delta of the Nile. The 

 work of reclaiming these tule lands is prosecuted most energetically; 

 and the facility of its accomplishment, and the success already achieved 

 in raising bounteous and luxuriant crops, surpasses the most hopeful 

 anticipations. Their value is enhanced by the locality being exempt 

 from miasmatic diseases. They are subject to public entiy at one dollar 

 and twenty-five cents per acre, and the j^roceeds are disbursed for their 

 reclamation. Here are homes for the asking, in the future Holland of 

 the Pacific— -the most valuable, the most highly to be prized land in 

 California! 



The tap root was another source of botheration, until by digging, 

 observing, and comparing — following up several roots through many 

 yards of gopher holes, some by a circuitous route of over forty feet into 

 a well, and others about the cellar — -I concluded that it was wicked to 

 curtail that appendage. It was opposing the instinct' of nature by a 

 contracted spirit; besides, it was fighting a shadow. All the trees I 

 ever bought had a superabundance of top, but scanty taps. 



In my first efforts at horticulture, I was forcibly impressed, while con- 

 templating the promising fruit buds on my yearling peach trees, that to 

 secure peaches for next season I certainly should not whittle up uy 

 darlings into fashionable standards, so I contented myself with pinch- 

 ing off the ends of the shoots, and have invariably followed the practice 

 since with profit, though often mortified by the remark of Eastern 

 visitors, that " The trees looked unnatural." Low-branched fruit trees 

 shade the ground, protect the stem from injury and sun scald, and 

 reduce the expense of pruning and gathering fruit fully fifty per cent. 



Our protracted dry season, bright skies, and high temperature, are 

 favorable to the development of fruit buds, hence our fruit trees are 

 weakened in their physique by overbearing; and if to this is added 

 insufficient moisture, close planting, and neglect in pruning, they soon 

 fail. The advice holds good, to follow the renovating system of pruning 

 by shortening in the branches, thinning out the fruit, clean culture-, and 

 shading the trunk. There is a needless apprehension with some, that 

 covering the stems of fruit trees with a wash composed of clay,' lime, 

 and ashes, which is otherwise veiy serviceable to protect the stem from 

 manifold injuries, would obstruct the pores of the bark, to which they 

 ascribe the office of lungs. Having had occasion to apply such a mix- 

 ture some seven years ago, I observe the good effects of that application 

 to this day. The once painted bark of those trees is perfectly smooth 

 and healthy looking, while the bark above has a dull appearance and is 

 covered more or less with moss. 



There is considerable difference here in the season of the ripening of 

 many varieties of fruit; some late Winter varieties getting mellow in 

 the Fall; but it depends entirely on the location, influenced by the aspect 



