64 CALIFORNIA VEGETABLES. 



on uplands. The water is distributed by means of small, 

 rather deep, ditches from which moisture readily extends 

 as the water moves out over the clay bottom which 

 underlies most of these lands and makes it possible to 

 hold the water up within reach of the roots of the plants. 

 With rich land, high heat and ample moisture just below 

 the surface the growth is almost marvelous. On these 

 lowlands flooding the surface frequently seriously injures 

 the plants by sun scald. 



Ridge System of Irrigating and Planting. Another 

 plan of using seepage from permanent ditches is the ridge 

 system by which the water is run at a little elevation 

 above the surface, upright plants being placed beside 

 the water on the top of the rigdes and running plants 

 on the sides of the ridges with the lower ground between 

 the ridges for the extension of their growth. The gen- 

 eral significance of the arrangement lies in keeping the 

 water supply constant near the roots, and it is adapted 

 to rather open soils in which lateral percolation is defi- 

 cient. The elevation of the ditch thus helps to hold moist- 

 ure near the surface on which the plants are placed 

 without resorting to flooding as in the check system. It 

 is obviously well adapted to a region of very light rain- 

 fall and can be laid out in a way to drain the ridges 

 when surplus water has to be disposed of. It involves 

 a large amount of hard work. In a locality where both 

 summer and winter gardening must be largely dependent 

 upon irrigation it has striking advantages. The follow- 

 ing description is from a Kern county vegetable grower, 

 after several years' satisfactory experience with the 

 method : 



"In preparing the ground make it as near level as pos- 

 sible, and cover the soil with about two inches of manure 

 (avoiding coarse straw or stalks), and plow this under 

 six to eight inches deep. Then harrow and cultivate until 

 the soil is smooth and fine. Use a wire or line to lay out 

 the ground; spread fine manure (well rotted is prefer- 



