680 THE MONTHLY BULLETIN. 



MORE IRRIGATION. 



By A. J. Cook, State Commissioner of Horticulture. 



One of the finest and most profitable deciduous fruit orchards of 

 California is situated close beside the banks of the Sacramento River. 

 For years this grove received no water other than that which came from 

 the annual rainfall; even then the profits were large. A few years 

 ago a centrifugal pump was installed, by aid of which abundant water 

 was drawn over the levee from the river. Since that time, just prior 

 to the picking season, the orchard is thoroughly irrigated. The profits 

 since have increased from one third to one half. Two years ago the 

 receipts from the seventy acres exceeded $40,000. Last year nearly 

 two thirds as much profit was received. This year the returns have 

 exceeded those of any previous year. The owner feels sure that the 

 present crop is much improved in quantity and quality, while probably 

 the greatest advantage comes from added vigor and stimulus which 

 secures more and finer fruit buds. This experience, as given above, 

 has a lesson for every fruit grower of the State. 



More Water Available. 



Of course such streams as the Sacramento, American, Feather, San 

 Joaquin, etc., are all too restricted in their distribution, yet these in 

 their location are not utilized to anything like what the best success of 

 the farmers demand, but there is an almost inexhaustible supply in the 

 underground reservoirs in nearly all parts of the State. Wells sunk 

 into these sub-earth gravels are often artesian and even, when not 

 flowing, with our cheap electric energy, pumping is not so expensive 

 as to be prohibitive, but will generally pay a large per cent on its cost. 

 I believe that soon the increase in profit in very many of our fields and 

 orchards, through a more genei'ous supply of water will equal those 

 referred to above. 



This present season in the county of Sacramento, there has been an 

 excessive drop of oranges in some of the groves. It is true that some 

 dropping of fruit is to be expected and is even desirable. It is nature 's 

 way of thinning the fruit, and lessening the overstrain of the trees. 

 Sometimes this thinning is over done and considerable loss occurs. 

 In parts of this and other northern citrus' counties, this dropping is 

 excessive in some of the orchards this season and loss will result. 

 There is, however, compensation, as the trees will profit by the release 

 from full or over production and will be in better condition for service 

 next year. The evident cause for this overdrop this present season, 

 in some cases at least, is lack of water. The curled leaves prove this 

 beyond conjecture. Indeed, some of the orchards are thirsty, and 

 possibly chronically so. It would be the height of wisdom to plan at 

 once for more water. In usual seasons the water is all too limited in 

 amount; in seasons of extreme heat, like the present, any lack of 

 moisture is very likely to become serious. Great heat with plants, as 

 with animals, is not serious — with plants is really advantageous — if 

 abundance of water is in the sap or blood; but in its absence, great 

 danger, often fatality, results. 



The obvious conclusion from the above fact is, provide for and use 



