THE IRRIGATION AGE. 



41 



census bureau has largely depended upon these offices 

 where they exist and where they do not the labors of 

 the special agents have been greatly increased. While 

 the statistics of the census bureau are valuable as far 

 as they go, they can be considered as but a summary 

 of a small part of the facts which the Stale Engineer's 

 offices should contain. Where shall we turn to find 

 the volume of unappropriated water, the location of the 

 land already irrigated and the character of the rights 

 which have accrued? 



As an example let us take two adjoining farms in 

 the Yakima valley in Washington. Suppose one to be 

 located under a canal and the other just above so that 

 it cannot be watered. The land of the dry farm would 

 probably be worth $1.50 per acre and could be used only 

 for grazing purposes. The irrigated farm would sell 

 for $75.00 per acre before the sage brush were removed. 

 Irrigation makes the difference. The added value of 

 $73.50 per acre must all be attributed to water. As 

 soon as the settler obtained his patent from the Gov- 

 ernment, a record was filed with the county clerk which 

 describes his land, and whenever the title passes into 

 other hands the record is chanuged so that it shows 

 at all times who is in possession. But the value of 

 the land depends on whether it is irrigated or not. 

 Where is the record of the water right? Nothing of 

 the kind exists in Washington. The people of the 

 irrigated districts of the State appreciate the value of 

 such records and if their influence were felt in the 

 legislative halls as it should be, a State Engineer's office 

 would have long since been created. And yet a man 

 who represents himself to be the leader in formulating 

 policies for the development of the arid West has 

 instituted a campaign against further reform in State 

 irrigation law. 



The experience of the West in irrigation matters 

 has been dearly bought. The price has been paid in 

 the courts, and Mr. Maxwell has realized his share of 

 the profits. The time has arrived when a change must 

 be made and we believe that the States having no fully 

 organized offices in charge of irrigation will profit by 

 the example of those" that have gone before and shown 

 that only by wise laws justly administered by the States 

 themselves can the irrigator be protected and the public 

 be kept informed as to the character and extent of 

 irrigation development. 



AT SET OF SUN. 

 If we sit down at set of sun 

 And count the things that we have done, 



And counting find 

 One self-denying act, one word 

 That eased the heart of him who heard, 



One glance most kind 

 That fell like sunshine where it went, 

 Then we may count the day well spent. 



IRRIGATION AND DRAINAGE IN THE FRESNO 

 DISTRICT. 



C. G. ELLIOTT. 



Starting a vineyard in the raisin district of Fresno 

 county, California, requires more careful attention 

 than its subject culture. The small cuttings are planted 

 where it is desired to have the vines grow and the soil 

 about them must be irrigated frequently enough to 

 keep it moist near the surface or they will not root 

 readily. A neglect in this part of the work will re- 

 sult in the premature drying up of the young plants 

 and the loss of a year's time in the starting of the 

 vineyard. The planting of previously rooted vines, 

 while accompanied with greater certainty in securing 

 a stand, is not regarded with favor by experienced 

 raisin growers. It is claimed that cuttings rooted in 



MR. C. G ELLIOTT, C. E., 

 Expert ic Drainage Investigations, U. S. Dept. of Agriculture. 



place send out direct from the cutting individual and 

 independent roots which grow downward and become 

 established at greater depth and with more permanence 

 than vines which are started from rooted cuttings. 

 The reason given for this is that transplanted roots are 

 necessarily broken or trimmed, from the end of which 

 new roots start in clusters and grow with a tendency 

 to spread rather than at once to seek nutriment and 

 moisture from the lower soil. 



It has been observed in recent years that adult 

 vines and trees in the older fruit belts require but a 



