82 CALIFORNIA VEGETABLES. 



flow slowly if the ground is nearly level ; if slightly sloping 

 small dams are made at such distances apart as are neces- 

 sary to hold the water at about uniform depth below the 

 surfaces of the beds. In this system the distribution of 

 water is very largely accomplished by the capillarity of 

 the soil, though the market gardeners who affect this 

 method also shower the plants from time to time by throw- 

 ing the water up from the ditch with a scoop shovel or 

 a shallow pan. The narrow ditches serve as walks in 

 working around the beds and rubber boots are in request. 

 By this system ample water supplies are constantly had 

 within reach of the roots, and as the surface is never pud- 

 dled it is easy to keep it loose and open to the air. When 

 the crop is gathered the whole field is deeply broken up 

 with the plow and harrow and the whole system laid out 

 anew, as soon as, in the course of rotation, a crop requir- 

 ing such hydropathic treatment comes again to the ground. 



Permanent Ditches. The use of permanent ditches was 

 formerly very common in the irrigation of sloping garden 

 ground and is still somewhat observed. These ditches are 

 drawn very nearly on contour lines, only just enough fall 

 being given to move the water slowly. When the slope is 

 nearly uniform the ditches are almost parallel and they 

 are distanced according to what is known of the movement 

 of water by seepage down the slope in each particular 

 soil. The plantings are made on the ptan of each strip 

 securing its moisture from the ditch above, and water is 

 admitted occasionally or kept running almost continu- 

 ously according to the needs of the particular crop or 

 the leakiness of the ditch. The outflow from the ditch, 

 after traversing backward and forward its full length, is 

 carried to an alfalfa patch below and thus utilized. These 

 permanent ditches serve a good purpose in saving hill- 

 sides from washing as they catch the surface storm water 

 before it has a chance to acquire much headway and carry 

 it down gently. Where the soil favors such distribution 

 very good results are attained with these ditches, but 



