i8o FORESTRY AND IRRIGATION April 



midsummer is not the best time of year March 20, 1903. The formation of such 



for seeding that crop, sorghum and a district will allow the construction of a 



Egyptian clover are being put in instead, drainage system which will result in the 



These crops will mature by fall if the reclamation of all lands now alkaline 



supply of irrigation water does not fail, and the prevention of further damage 



and in the winter the land will be seeded from this source. 



to alfalfa. The small spots which are The system recommended, after over 

 not yet ready for alfalfa are rapidly three years' study of the conditions, 

 approaching that condition, and will be consists of tile drains varying in size 

 ready for a crop during the coming from 4 inches to 24 inches. The main 

 winter. Thus it will be seen that prac- drain will be an open ditch, collecting 

 tically all the land in this 2oacre tract the water from the parallel tile drains 

 has been returned to a state of profitable one-half mile apart. This main will 

 cultivation in a period of four and a half deliver the water at the surface of the 

 months after irrigation was commenced, ground in the district west of Fresno, 

 and the statement seems justified that where it can be used for irrigation, 

 any alkali land in the Fresno district Repeated analyses show that even the 

 can be brought into profitable cultiva- most concentrated of the drainage waters 

 tion in less than one year's time, the from this tract would not be injurious 

 two requisites for this being underdrain- when so used if the land is properly 

 age and a copious supply of water for underdrained. The main tile will be 

 irrigation. While the soil experts con- laid in approximately straight lines, in- 

 sider the land of the Toft-Hansen field creasing in size up to 24 inches in diame- 

 practically reclaimed at the present ter. On the fields badly charged by alkali 

 time, the demonstration will be contin- further drainage by 4-inch, 5-inch, and 

 tied until a satisfactory stand of alfalfa 6-inch tile laterals may be necessary, 

 is secured. but such fields are comparatively few. 

 The reclamation work on this tract The cost of this system, calculated on a 

 has progressed so far that the most basis of 20,000 to 26,000 acres, should 

 skeptical must be convinced that drain- not exceed $10 per acre. The work of 

 age and irrigation will reclaim alkali the federal experts legitimately ends 

 lands. A district of nearly 26,000 acres with the demonstration now being corn- 

 is now suffering more or less from alkali pleted on the Toft-Hansen tract. The 

 and seepage water, and it rests with the formation of the district and the build- 

 owners of this land to form a drainage ing of drains and the reclamation of 

 district under the act passed by the land will rest entirely with the voters 

 last legislature of California, approved and the owners of the land. 



A PREVENTIVE OF FOREST FIRES. 



SUGGESTIONS FOR THE ADOPTION OF A SPARK-DEFLECTOR 

 WHICH WILL REMOVE SOME OF THE MENACE WHICH THE 

 RAILROADS HAVE FOR THE WOODS DURING DRY SEASONS. 



BY 



BRISTOW ADAMS. . 



IT is admitted by all who have studied careless track crews leave their camp- 

 the problem that a majority of the fires burning, or, in destroying old ma- 

 forest fires in the United States are terialby burning along the right of way, 

 directly traceable to the railroads which allow the flames to get into the surround- 

 traverse long wooded stretches. Several ing forests ; but the most prolific cause 

 causes tend toward this state of affairs ; of all is the shower of sparks which are 



Half-tones used by courtesy of New York Forest, Fish, and Game Commission. 



