us 



4rom 1897 to 1900, while working mmy hardships, served to prove 

 ihat with careful cultivation, crops, orchards, and vineyards could be 

 maintained on a very small amount of water. In some cases an 

 amount not exceeding 6 inches in depth of irrigation water was applied 

 durino- the year, this being conducted directly to the plants, and the 

 ground kept caref ally tilled and free from weeds. ^ 



During these times of drought some fruits, as, for example, grapes, 

 apples, olives, peaches, and apricots, were riised without irrigation, 

 but a most thorough cultivation was practised. Some fruitgrowers 

 insist that, in the case of grapes, for example, the quality is better 

 when raised without artificially applying water, although the quantity 

 is less. It has been stated that in raisin-making there is less contrast 

 than might be expected bet A^een the irrigated and non-irrigated vine- 

 yards, for although the yield of grapes raised by wataring is far heavier 

 yet after drying the difference is not so marked. Whmt and barley, 

 also, according to some farmers, make a better hay when cultivated dry, 

 but the weight is less Shade trees, sueh, for example, as the 

 eucalyptus or Australian blue-gum, ths catalpa. mulberry, and acacia, 

 grow without water artificially applied, but do no; reach the extraordi- 

 nary development that they do when near irrigating ditches. It is 

 almost useless to attempt to raise the citrus fruits without plenty of 

 water. 



The quantity of water necessary to irrigate an acre, as estimated 

 by various water companies in southern California, ranges from 1 

 miner's inch to 5 acres, to 1 miner's inch to 10 acres, the miner's inch 

 in this connection being defined as a quantity equalling 12,960 t^allons 

 in twenty-four hours, or almost exactly 0.02 second-foot, this being the 

 amount which has been delivered under a 4-inch head measured from 

 the centre of the opening. Under this assumption 1 second-foot 

 should irrigate from 250 to 500 acres. This is on the basis of deliver- 

 ing the water in pipes or cemented channels in the immediate vicinity 

 of the trees or vines to be irrigated. 



If it is assumed that 1 miner's inch is allowei for 10 acres, or 1 

 second-foot for 500 acres, this quantity of water flowing from May to 

 October inclusive, will cover the ground to a depth of a little over 

 seven-tenths of a foot, or 8.8 inches, a quantity which, with the care 

 and cultivation usually employed, has been found to be sufficient for 

 some orchards. Mr. W. Irving, Chief Engineer of the Gage Canal, 

 Riverside, California, states that for the year ending September 30, 

 1899, water ranging in depth from 1.78 to 2.48 feet was used in addi- 

 tion to tha rainfall of 47 foot. This was less than the usual quantity 

 economy being enforced hj shortage of supply. 



The metiod of applying water governs to a large extent the 

 amount used. In the case of lucerne, flooding is usually practised ; 

 with small grains in most parts of the West the water is run in fur- 

 rows ; while in the case ot orchards the water is sometimes applied 

 directly to each tree. In this case a little earth basin, aboat 6 feet or 

 more across and 6 inches deep, is formed around each tree and partially 

 filled with water; The better way, however, is that of running water 

 in furrows, four or five of these iteing ploughed between each two 

 rows of trees. The water is applied very slowly, several days being 



