272 THE IRRIGATION AGE. 



ed where there is drainage, but while some lands will retain and furnish sufficient 

 moisture to fully mature deciduous crops, other soils, such as the foothill adobe, dry 

 out very quickly, though at the same time if saturated with water in the winter and 

 kept thoroughly cultivated in summer; they require comparatively little subsequent 

 additions of water to perfectly mature the crop. It should be noted in this connec- 

 tion, that whereas crops have been raised in Southern California on one-half an acre 

 foot of water and even less that is about one inch to ten acres yet the experience- 



ST. PETER'S DEFENSE. 



Some years ago, David Parker, a distinguished poet 

 in the state of Maine, after the birth of his first child wrote 

 and published the following pretty poem: 

 One night as old St. Peter slept, 



He left the door of heaven ajar; 

 When through a little angle crept, 



And came down with a falling star. 



One summer, as the blessed beams 



Of morn approached, my blushing bride 

 Awakened from some pleasing dreams 



And found that angel by her side. 

 God grant but this- I ask no more 



That when he leaves this world of pain 

 He'll wing his way to that bright shore, 



And find the road to heaven again. 



John G. Saxe, not to be outdone, and deeming that 

 injustice had been done to St. Peter, wrote the following as. 

 St. Peter's reply: 



Full eighteen hundred years or more t 



I've kept my gate securely fast; 

 There has no "little angel" strayed, 



Nor recreant through the portals passed. 

 I did not sleep, as you supposed, 



Nor left the door of heaven ajar. 

 Nor has a "little angel" left, 



And gone down with a falling star. 

 Go ask that blushing bride, and see 



If she don't frankly own and say, 

 That when she found that angel babe, 



She found it in the good old way. 

 God grant but this I ask no more 



That should your number still enlarge,. 

 You will not do as done before, 



And lay it to old Peter's charge. 



