METHODS OF APPLYING WATER. 141 



Underground Flumes and Stand Pipes. In 

 Southern California, where water is scarce and most eco- 

 nomically applied, the preferred orchard system is that 

 of the underground lateral to convey the water to the 

 place of its application. The scheme is to have the 

 water delivered by underground cement or iron pipes at 

 the highest point of each ten-acre lot. This delivery is 

 ordinarily made by a cement hydrant or pipe, opening 

 into a flume made of wood, brick or vitrified pipe, extend- 

 ing entirely across the plot to be irrigated. If it be trees 

 or vines that are to be irrigated, there will be from two 

 to eight furrows plowed between the rows at right. angles 



FIG. 51. SECTION OF VITRIFIED HEAD DITCH. 



with the flume and extending in the same direction with 

 the grade of the land. Flumes made of redwood either 

 V-shaped or square are largely used, and opposite each 

 furrow and opening directly into it an auger hole in the 

 plank is bored, which is covered with a galvanized iron 

 gate set in a slide, the whole thing being cheaply pro- 

 vided but very effective. 



The water having been turned into a flume from the 

 hydrant, the slides over the apertures are adjusted so as 

 to allow exactly the amount to escape that is desired. 

 Slow saturation is the desideratum rather than sudden 

 flooding, and by using these gates the flow may be ad- 

 justed to a nicety and the water then left to itself, no 



