REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE. XLV 



the cause of much expense, but have undoubtedly saved the country 

 from injury by alkali. 



The most important problem which was encountered was the ques- 

 tion of fertilizing the soils. California has no fertilizer-control law. 

 Numerous brands of fertilizers are manufactured, each with a special 

 object in view, and all are sold at high prices and with no guaranties 

 but the manufacturers 1 analyses. The farmers are using large quan- 

 tities of these fertilizers, in many cases unnecessarily, and in most 

 cases without discretion, but in the hopes of supplying the require- 

 ments of the plant and of increasing the yield of fruit. There is great 

 necessity for information on these points, and this information can 

 only be gained through extensive plat experiments. The soil maps 

 will show the best places to carry on this experimental work. Inves- 

 tigations in this line by some one competent to undertake such studies 

 should be started at once, and the excessive application of fertilizers 

 should be stopped, unless the necessity of such large applications is 

 proved by experiment. 



About 216 square miles were surveyed around Hanford. The most 

 important problems encountered in this section are those of seepage 

 water and alkali. All of the land is low, most of it being in the slough 

 country, and when well drained and free from alkali is very produc- 

 tive. The drainage is into Tulare Lake and into the San Joaquin 

 River by way of the sloughs which connect the Kings and San Joaquin 

 rivers. During the winter and spring months the sloughs and streams 

 fill with water and soak the subsoil, so that standing water is found at 

 less than 6 feet from the surface of the ground. Everything possible 

 is done to assist this filling of the soil with water, for the* success of 

 the following crop is supposed to depend upon the water which is thus 

 stored in the soils. The natural drainage by the sloughs is often 

 artificially blocked by dams during this period, and the irrigation 

 canals continually carry water on the land. There is no question but 

 that the crops are benefited by the water stored in this way at certain 

 seasons, but at the same time some of the most valuable land is being 

 ruined by the rise of alkali due to the high water table. Already 

 large areas are left out of cultivation, and unless the present practices 

 are changed further damage will ensue. Instead of damming the 

 drainage systems, eveiything possible should be done to cany off the 

 winter's excess of water, and, instead of depending upon subirrigation 

 to furnish the needed water supply, the water should be applied from 

 the top of the ground, which would tend to drive the alkali down. 



In order thoroughly to reclaim the district and insure against further 

 damage, a drainage district should be formed and outlet canals be dug 

 for the free passage of the excess of water, and the sloughs which are 

 now dammed should be opened. If winter irrigation is to be prac- 

 ticed, it should be from the surface, for subirrigation in such soils, 



