SOILS, FERTILIZERS AND IRRIGATION 67 



Laying Pipe Before Leveling. 



A and B each bought land in a tract owned by a development com- 

 pany. The company reserved the right to lay irrigating laterals across 

 the land. This they laid at a uniform depth across the land in its nat- 

 ural state without taking into consideration the contours as reported 

 by their civil engineers. When the land was leveled so that it could 

 be irrigated the pipe line was exposed so as to prevent farming across it. 

 Will A and B be obliged to lower the pipe at their own expense, or 

 should the company pay for their own negligence? 



Each instrument reserving the rights of way for irrigating laterals, 

 etc., must be carefully interpreted in order to understand the conditions 

 for which it was drawn. If there is no specification regarding the size, 

 location and method of constructing the conduit, the rule of reasonable- 

 ness alone governs. If, considering all existing conditions, the conduit 

 has been laid in an unreasonable manner, the company is liable. 



Bermuda on Reservoir Bottom. 



/ have a reservoir covering an acre which has a complete sod of 

 Bermuda grass in the bottom. What would your idea be of the most 

 practical way to get rid of it? Could it be done with distillate? 



If you wish to remove the Bermuda so that you can work the soil 

 bottom to make the reservoir hold water, undercut the sod with a weed 

 knife or flat-tooth cultivator, dry, rake into windrows and burn and then 

 get on with your harrows, clay, sheep, etc. whichever you choose to 

 use to puddle the bottom. If you wish to kill the top growth, distillate 

 will do that, but it will not get the bottom of the Bermuda. It will 

 come up again when it gets ready, providing the surface has air and 

 light. But if it is simply a question of killing the Bermuda on the reser- 

 voir bottom, why do you worry? Fill the reservoir and that will settle 

 it. Bermuda is not an aquatic plant. It will probably climb out over 

 the banks, but that will not be a bad idea ; it will keep the banks from 

 washing. 



Oil Lining for Reservoirs. 



Is it practical to cover the bottom of a reservoir with heavy oil to 

 overcome seepage say such oil as they use on the roads in California? 

 Or would the oil rise on the water and go out on the alfalfa when 

 irrigated? 



It gives satisfaction and there are a number so constructed in this 

 State. You must get an even distribution. The oil must be thoroughly 

 mixed with the soil for several inches deep and rolled hard, then no more 

 oil is taken up from the bottom than there is from a road in a rainstorm, 

 and that is not enough to do harm. Possibly the first time the reser- 

 voir is filled the water might take off an appreciable quantity, depending 

 largely on the way the oiling was done, but later no trouble would be 

 expected, and a very impervious bottom would be secured. 



